CARACAS / WASHINGTON D.C. – US President Donald Trump announced on Saturday that the United States has carried out a “large-scale strike against Venezuela” and captured President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, flying them out of the country.
The claim, posted on Trump’s Truth Social account, comes amid weeks of escalating tensions between the two nations.
“The United States of America has successfully carried out a large-scale strike against Venezuela and its leader, President Nicolás Maduro, who has been, along with his wife, captured and flown out of the country,” Trump wrote. “This operation was done in conjunction with U.S. law enforcement. Details to follow. There will be a news conference today at 11 A.M., at Mar-a-Lago.”
Trump did not provide further details on how Maduro was captured, where he is being held, or the extent of the strike. CBS News, citing US officials, reported that Maduro and his wife were seized by Delta Force, the US military’s top counter-terrorism unit.
In Caracas, eyewitnesses described explosions and chaos. “My heart was pumping, and my legs were shaking,” one resident told the BBC. Footage showed plumes of smoke and fires raging across the city. Venezuelan authorities reported that civilian areas may have been hit and are investigating casualties and damage.
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has not independently confirmed the report. The Venezuelan government has denounced the strikes as “military aggression” and announced a state of national emergency. Defence Minister Vladimir Padrino vowed that Venezuela will resist the presence of foreign troops.
The announcement comes after months of heightened tensions, with the US accusing Maduro of leading an international drug trafficking network—claims Maduro has denied. The US had previously offered a $50 million reward for information leading to his capture.
Analysts say the latest strike could mark a dramatic escalation in US-Venezuela relations, though many questions remain unanswered about the operation, its legality, and its potential impact on regional stability.
