The United States has carried out a large-scale military strike inside Venezuela, and U.S. President Donald Trump says Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife have been captured and flown out of the country.
Trump announced the operation early Saturday in a post on his social platform, saying the strike was conducted “in conjunction with U.S. law enforcement” and that more details would be provided at a news conference scheduled for 11 A.M. at Mar-a-Lago.
Explosions and the sounds of aircraft were reported in Caracas and other areas of Venezuela in the early hours of Saturday, with witnesses and video circulated on social media showing blasts and smoke near major military sites. Residents also reported power outages in parts of the capital. Venezuelan authorities have accused the United States of a “very serious military aggression” and declared a national emergency, calling on citizens and security forces to mobilize in response to what they described as an attack on Venezuelan sovereignty.
In his announcement, Trump wrote that both Maduro and his wife were “captured and flown out of the country,” though independent verification from Venezuelan officials or third-party observers confirming the exact circumstances of their detention and current whereabouts has not yet been provided.
The Venezuelan government denounced the strikes as a violation of international law and an attempt to undermine the nation’s independence, claiming attacks hit both civilian and military targets in Caracas and surrounding states. Maduro’s administration has responded by invoking emergency powers and urging resistance against the perceived aggression.
This represents a major escalation in tensions between the United States and Venezuela, following months of U.S. pressure on the Maduro government over alleged drug trafficking and claims that Venezuela has operated as a narco-state. The situation remains fluid, with international reactions and further details expected as events continue to unfold.
