CARACAS/WASHINGTON — The United States carried out a large-scale military operation early Saturday in Venezuela that resulted in the capture of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, U.S. President Donald Trump announced, marking a dramatic escalation in tensions between the two countries. The operation, which involved airstrikes and special forces in and around Caracas, was ordered by Trump and comes after months of heightened U.S. pressure on Maduro’s government over alleged drug trafficking and political illegitimacy, officials said.
Trump, speaking from his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, said U.S. forces sustained some injuries but no fatalities during the mission and that Maduro and his wife were taken into custody and flown out of Venezuelan territory. Trump declared the United States will “run” Venezuela temporarily to ensure a stable transition, according to his remarks.
In Caracas, loud explosions and helicopter activity were reported before dawn as U.S. aircraft and special operations troops struck military targets and Maduro’s compound, according to U.S. and Venezuelan sources. Satellite imagery and local footage showed military movement around key bases in the capital.
The mission, described by U.S. officials as one of the most complex in recent memory, had been planned for months, with elite troops rehearsing in advance and intelligence provided by CIA operatives on the ground, according to sources familiar with the planning. U.S. aircraft carriers, warships and more than a dozen fighter jets were part of the build-up in the Caribbean preceding the strike.
The Venezuelan government condemned the action as “military aggression,” saying strikes occurred across multiple regions including Caracas, Miranda, Aragua and La Guaira, and declared a national emergency, urging civic mobilization in response. Officials in Caracas termed the seizure of Maduro a violation of sovereignty and demanded proof of his safety.
Reactions from the international community were mixed. Argentina voiced support for the U.S. move, while Brazil and Mexico criticized the strikes as breaches of international law. The United Kingdom stated it was not involved in the operation and stressed it was focused on the safety of its citizens in Venezuela. Russia and China condemned the U.S. action as a violation of international norms.
Maduro, in power since 2013, had faced longstanding allegations from the United States of overseeing a narco-state and holding illegitimate elections, accusations his government has consistently denied. The capture underscores a stark shift in U.S. foreign policy in the Western Hemisphere and could reshape regional dynamics, analysts say.
The operation introduces uncertainty over Venezuela’s political future and governance structure. Trump’s comments signaled potential long-term U.S. involvement to manage the country’s transition but details on legal and diplomatic frameworks remain limited.
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