US Claims Capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in Military Operation
The United States has announced that Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife were captured and flown out of Venezuela in a military operation conducted in collaboration with US law enforcement. Explosions were reported in Caracas around 02:00 local time, with strikes targeting the La Carlota airfield and Fuerte Tiuna military base, resulting in power outages in surrounding areas.
In response, Venezuela declared a national emergency. The Vice-President stated that Maduro's whereabouts were unknown and demanded proof of life, while the Defence Minister said the strikes hit civilian areas and vowed to resist foreign troops. The Venezuelan government denounced the attack as an extremely serious military aggression aimed at seizing the country's oil and mineral resources and threatening international peace.
Reports indicate that Maduro was captured by the US Army Delta Force. Former US President Donald Trump planned to hold a news conference at Mar-a-Lago at 11:00 EST to provide more details.
The US has accused Maduro of drug smuggling and of leading an illegitimate government. Maduro has denied any leadership of drug networks. The US has designated two Venezuelan criminal groups, Tren de Aragua and Cartel de los Soles, as Foreign Terrorist Organizations. Recent US operations include strikes in international waters against boats alleged to be trafficking drugs, resulting in the deaths of over 100 people.
Maduro rose to power in 2013 following the death of Hugo Chávez and won the 2024 presidential election amid claims from the opposition. Relations between the US and Venezuela have been tense, influenced by issues such as migration and drug interdiction efforts.
