TLDR

  • President Donald Trump stated on Saturday that Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife were captured and flown out of Venezuela during a U.S. military operation
  • Early Saturday morning, the U.S. launched strikes on military facilities and installations in Caracas, with at least seven explosions heard around 2 a.m. local time
  • Maduro was indicted in a U.S. court in 2020 on charges of alleged narcoterrorism, and the Trump administration has accused him of drug trafficking
  • The operation followed months of the U.S. building up its military in the Caribbean, including deploying the USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier
  • Trump scheduled a press conference at 11 a.m. ET at Mar-a-Lago to provide more details about the operation

Early Saturday, President Donald Trump announced that Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro had been captured and removed from the country following a U.S. military operation. Trump made the announcement in a post on Truth Social after strikes were carried out in Venezuela’s capital city of Caracas.

According to Trump’s statement, the operation led to the capture of both Maduro and his wife. U.S. law enforcement authorities were involved in coordinating the operation, though Trump did not specify which agencies took part or give details on how the capture was carried out.

On Saturday morning, around 2 a.m. local time, at least seven explosions were heard in Caracas. Witnesses reported seeing low-flying aircraft and smoke rising from several locations, including La Carlota airport and Fuerte Tiuna, Venezuela’s largest military complex. The apparent attack lasted less than 30 minutes.

The explosions caused residents to rush into the streets. Two hours after the strikes ended, parts of the city were still without power. Before the operation, the Federal Aviation Administration banned U.S. commercial flights in Venezuelan airspace, citing “ongoing military activity.”

Background of U.S. Pressure Campaign

The operation occurred after months of increasing military pressure on Venezuela. The U.S. had positioned the USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier and multiple warships in the Caribbean region. In recent weeks, U.S. forces seized two oil tankers off Venezuela’s coast.

The Trump administration also launched deadly strikes on more than 30 boats allegedly carrying drugs. President Trump previously ordered strikes on what he described as “the dock area where they load the boats up with drugs.” These actions were part of a broader campaign against Maduro’s government.

Maduro was indicted in a U.S. court in 2020 on charges of alleged narcoterrorism. The Trump administration has accused Maduro of drug trafficking and working with gangs designated as terrorist organizations. Maduro has denied these accusations.

On Christmas Eve, Trump declined to state his specific goals regarding Venezuela. He warned that if Maduro “plays tough, it’ll be the last time he’ll ever be able to play tough.” This statement came just over a week before Saturday’s military action.

Details of Saturday’s Operation

According to the Venezuelan government, the strikes targeted both civilian and military installations in Caracas. U.S. officials confirmed to CBS News that President Trump ordered strikes on sites inside Venezuela, including military facilities. Trump described the operation as “large scale” in his announcement.

The exact number of casualties from the strikes was not immediately clear. Venezuela’s government accused the United States of attacking the installations but did not provide further details. Venezuelan officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment about Maduro’s reported capture.

After the operation concluded, vehicles moved freely through Caracas. The city showed signs of returning to normal activity even though some areas remained without electricity. Social media users posted reports of hearing and seeing the blasts throughout the capital.

Trump scheduled a press conference for 11 a.m. ET at Mar-a-Lago to provide more information about the operation. Before Trump’s announcement, the White House and Pentagon had not commented on the explosions. No other details about Maduro’s location or plans for his prosecution have been released.