Trump captures Maduro after major US strike on Venezuela

By Newsflash and Agencies

President Donald Trump announced early Saturday that the United States had carried out what he described as a “large-scale strike” on Venezuela, resulting in the capture of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, and their removal from the country.

In a post shared on his Truth Social platform, Trump said the operation was successful and decisive, declaring that Maduro and his wife had been apprehended and flown out of Venezuela. He later praised the action as a “brilliant operation,” citing extensive planning and the involvement of what he called highly capable US forces.

The announcement immediately triggered international concern, with Venezuela calling for an urgent meeting of the United Nations Security Council to address what it termed an act of military aggression.

Venezuela condemns attack, seeks UN intervention

Venezuela’s Foreign Minister, Yván Gil Pinto, said the government had formally requested an emergency Security Council session in response to the strikes. In a message shared publicly, he insisted that no external attack would break the resolve of the Venezuelan people, adding that the country would ultimately prevail.

Before Trump’s statement, the Venezuelan government had already issued a condemnation, describing the incident as a “very serious and grave military aggression.” Authorities accused the United States of launching attacks on Caracas as well as the states of Miranda, Aragua, and La Guaira.

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Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez said the government did not know the whereabouts of Maduro and First Lady Cilia Flores following the strikes. She demanded immediate proof that the two were alive, calling on Washington to account for their status.

Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López described the events as the most severe violation of Venezuela’s sovereignty in its history. He vowed that the country would resist any foreign military presence and ordered what he termed a massive nationwide deployment of Venezuelan armed forces.

Explosions rock Caracas amid power outages

Multiple explosions were reported in the early hours of Saturday in the Venezuelan capital, Caracas. Residents and journalists on the ground described loud blasts followed by the sound of aircraft overhead. In several neighbourhoods, electricity was knocked out, leaving large sections of the city in darkness.

Witnesses reported seeing plumes of smoke rising into the night sky, illuminated by flashes of light and followed by deep booming sounds. One of the strongest explosions reportedly shook buildings and windows shortly before 2 a.m. local time.

Hours later, however, Caracas appeared relatively calm. Streets remained largely empty, and state television repeatedly broadcast messages urging citizens to remain calm as security forces were deployed across the country. Officials said the situation was under control, despite the uncertainty surrounding the fate of the president.

Arrest claim tied to long-running US pressure campaign

According to US officials cited by American lawmakers, Maduro was arrested by US personnel and is expected to face criminal charges in the United States. Senator Mike Lee of Utah said he had been informed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio that the military action was carried out to secure and protect the arrest operation.

The Trump administration has for years portrayed Maduro as the head of a criminal enterprise and has sought his prosecution through the US legal system. In 2020, during Trump’s first term, Maduro was charged in New York with narco-terrorism, conspiracy to import cocaine, and related offenses.

Washington had previously placed a bounty on Maduro’s arrest, initially set at $15 million. That figure was later raised to $25 million and then increased again to $50 million in August 2025, after Trump began his second term and designated the Cartel de los Soles as a foreign terrorist organisation. US authorities allege Maduro leads the group, which they accuse of large-scale drug trafficking.

In recent weeks, Trump had openly warned that tougher action against Venezuela was imminent, citing alleged links between the Maduro government and drug trafficking networks. The US has already destroyed dozens of vessels in regional waters, imposed a blockade on sanctioned oil tankers, and carried out earlier covert strikes on Venezuelan infrastructure.

Saturday’s operation marks the most dramatic escalation yet, with potentially far-reaching consequences for Venezuela, the region, and global diplomacy.