President Donald Trump said on Saturday that U.S. forces carried out overnight strikes in Venezuela and captured President Nicolas Maduro, marking Washington’s most direct military intervention in the country in decades and triggering uncertainty over who now holds power in Caracas.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said, "The United States of America has successfully carried out a large scale strike against Venezuela and its leader, President Nicolas Maduro, who has been, along with his wife, captured and flown out of the country," though Venezuelan authorities have not confirmed the claim.
Explosions were reported in Caracas and several surrounding states in the early hours of the morning, as residents described aircraft overhead, flashes in the sky, and prolonged detonations.
Venezuela’s government acknowledged attacks on multiple locations but said it had lost contact with Maduro and First Lady Cilia Flores, demanding proof of life from Washington.
Details of the U.S. operation, including its legal basis and scope, have not been fully disclosed.
Trump later told Fox News that Maduro was captured by U.S. special operations forces and transported by helicopter to an American amphibious assault ship in the Caribbean before being moved to the United States.
U.S. officials said the operation had been delayed several times because of weather and was conducted in coordination with U.S. law enforcement agencies.
A U.S. official told Reuters that elite special forces were involved, while Republican Senator Mike Lee said Maduro would face criminal charges in U.S. courts.
Maduro was indicted in 2020 on narco-terrorism and drug trafficking charges, allegations he has consistently denied.
Attorney General Pam Bondi said Maduro and his wife would face justice in American courts, while Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino condemned the intervention and called for national unity.
Venezuela’s ruling Chavismo movement reported civilian and military deaths from the strikes but did not release figures.
With Maduro’s whereabouts unconfirmed, attention has turned to Vice President Delcy Rodriguez, who is constitutionally next in line but whose location has been disputed.
Rodriguez said she did not know where Maduro or Flores were and accused the United States of violating Venezuela’s sovereignty.
Other senior figures, including Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello and military leadership, have signaled resistance, adding to uncertainty over control of state institutions.
The opposition, led by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Corina Machado, reiterated claims that it won the 2024 election but did not immediately comment on Maduro’s removal.
International reactions were sharply divided, with Russia, Cuba, and Iran condemning the strikes, while some regional leaders praised or criticized the intervention along ideological lines.
Oil facilities operated by state company PDVSA were reported to be functioning normally, though analysts warned of potential market volatility and prolonged instability.