News Desk: US President Donald Trump said on Saturday that Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores were captured following large-scale US airstrikes across Venezuela—an escalation that, if confirmed, would mark one of the most consequential interventions in Latin America in decades.
Posting on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump claimed the United States carried out a coordinated overnight operation involving military assets and federal law enforcement agencies, resulting in Maduro’s arrest and removal from the country. He said further details would be shared at a press conference later at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida.
“The United States of America has successfully carried out a large-scale strike against Venezuela and its leader,” Trump wrote, alleging that Maduro and Flores had been “captured and flown out of the country.”
However, beyond Trump’s statement, there has been no official confirmation from the US government, the Pentagon, or federal agencies. A senior US official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said elite special forces were involved, but did not provide operational details.
“At my direction, the U.S. Armed Forces conducted an extraordinary military operation in the capital of Venezuela…This was one of the most stunning, effective, and powerful displays of American military might and competence in American history.” – PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/QibvrRKsSv
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) January 3, 2026
Explosions Rock Caracas
The reported strikes began in the early hours of Saturday, with loud explosions and heavy aerial activity shaking Caracas and surrounding regions, including Miranda, Aragua and La Guaira. Witnesses described nearly 90 minutes of blasts, low-flying aircraft and thick plumes of smoke rising over parts of the capital, as images and videos flooded social media.
Several neighbourhoods reported power outages, particularly near key military installations such as Fuerte Tiuna and the La Carlota air base, heightening fears of a broader conflict.
Venezuelan Government Rejects Claims
Venezuela’s government swiftly declared a national emergency and ordered troop mobilisation. Defence Minister Vladimir Padrino appeared on state television, condemning what he described as a foreign military assault and calling on citizens to defend national sovereignty.
“Free, independent and sovereign Venezuela rejects the presence of foreign troops that have only left death, pain and destruction,” Padrino said, urging unity and resistance.
Crucially, Venezuelan authorities have not confirmed Trump’s claim that Maduro was captured or removed from the country. State media continued broadcasts, but offered no clarity on the president’s whereabouts.
Opposition, Region React Cautiously
The Venezuelan opposition, led by María Corina Machado, said it had no official comment on Trump’s assertions, underscoring the uncertainty surrounding the situation.
International reaction was swift. Allies of Caracas, including Cuba and Iran, condemned the strikes. Tehran described them as a “blatant violation of national sovereignty” and urged the United Nations Security Council to intervene.
A Flashpoint With Deep History
Maduro, who succeeded Hugo Chávez in 2013, has ruled Venezuela for over a decade amid economic collapse, mass migration, sanctions and repeated accusations of election manipulation. The United States and several allies have refused to recognise the legitimacy of his continued rule, particularly after the disputed 2024 election.
Trump has repeatedly branded Maduro a “narco-state” leader, accusing his government of drug trafficking and democratic backsliding. Maduro has consistently denied the allegations, accusing Washington of seeking control over Venezuela’s vast oil reserves—the largest proven in the world.
If verified, the operation would represent the most direct US military action in Latin America since the 1989 invasion of Panama that led to the arrest of Manuel Noriega—a precedent that continues to shape regional sensitivities.
Legal and Global Fallout Looms
Legal experts have raised serious questions about the authority under which such strikes could be conducted, especially amid broader criticism of recent US actions against suspected drug-trafficking networks in international waters.
As uncertainty grips Venezuela and the region braces for potential escalation, Trump’s unverified claim has plunged Latin America into one of its most volatile geopolitical moments in years—one where facts, power and perception are colliding at extraordinary speed.
