The United States carried out what it described as a “large-scale” military strike on Venezuela early Saturday, claiming the operation resulted in the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, according to statements from senior U.S. officials and President Donald Trump. The announcement immediately heightened tensions across the region and sparked global concern over the future of Venezuela’s leadership.
In a post published on Truth Social shortly after 4:30 a.m. Eastern Time, Trump said Maduro and the first lady had been “captured and flown out of the country” following an overnight operation involving U.S. law enforcement and military assets. Trump described the mission as “successful” and said additional details, including evidence and next steps, would be shared during a news conference scheduled for later Saturday.
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi said Maduro has been indicted in New York on multiple charges, including drug trafficking and weapons-related offenses. She stated that Maduro would be transported to the United States, where he would “face the full wrath of American justice on American soil in American courts,” emphasizing that the operation followed years of investigations by U.S. authorities.
Reports from Caracas indicated explosions across parts of the capital as low-flying aircraft were seen overhead during the early morning hours. Venezuela’s government accused the United States of targeting both civilian and military infrastructure, calling the strikes an act of “extremely serious military aggression.” Officials declared a nationwide state of emergency and urged citizens to mobilize in defense of the country, framing the operation as an “imperialist attack” on Venezuelan sovereignty.