CARACAS — In the early hours of Saturday, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were captured by U.S. forces following a large-scale American military operation in Caracas, Venezuela’s capital, U.S. officials and President Donald Trump announced. The dramatic development capped months of escalating tension between Washington and Maduro’s government and marks an unprecedented direct American intervention in the region.
Explosions and low-flying aircraft were reported over Caracas just after 2 a.m. local time, as residents heard blasts and saw smoke rising over major military installations. The assault came after weeks of U.S. pressure on Venezuela, which included air and naval actions targeting suspected drug smuggling and the imposition of economic sanctions.
President Trump took to his social media platform early Saturday to announce the outcome of the mission, saying the United States had “successfully carried out a large-scale strike against Venezuela and its leader.” He confirmed Maduro and his wife were “captured and flown out of the country.” U.S. lawmakers were briefed that the capture was intended to bring Maduro to trial in the United States on longstanding criminal charges.
According to U.S. sources, members of Delta Force, the Army’s elite special operations unit, executed the capture after the CIA provided precise information on Maduro’s location. One source familiar with U.S. planning said President Trump had authorized the operation days earlier, with troops prepared to act even on Christmas Day but delayed due to concurrent strikes in Nigeria.
Attorney General Pam Bondi later said in a public statement that both Maduro and Flores have been indicted in the Southern District of New York on serious charges, including narco-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine importation conspiracy, and firearms offenses, and will soon face American justice on U.S. soil. Bondi thanked the military and the president for the operation’s success.
The Venezuelan government vehemently condemned the U.S. action as a “criminal military aggression,” declaring a state of emergency and urging citizens to mobilize against what it called an imperialist attack. Venezuelan officials, including Vice President Delcy Rodríguez, have demanded proof of life and the whereabouts of Maduro and Flores.
International reactions have been swift and divided. Nations such as Brazil criticized the U.S. for crossing an “unacceptable line” with its military intervention, calling for a vigorous response from the United Nations. Others have pushed for restraint and the protection of Venezuelan sovereignty.
The capture of Maduro comes at a tumultuous moment in Venezuelan history. Just hours before his detention, he met with a Chinese special envoy, highlighting ongoing diplomatic efforts even as tensions with the U.S. reached a boiling point. The full consequences of this strike — politically, legally, and for the Venezuelan people — are only beginning to unfold.
Relevant pictures of Nicolás Maduro’s capture and aftermath:
*(Below are images gathered from live news of the U.S. operation, Caracas skyline, and Maduro in custody — click to explore visual context.)*
