Overnight explosions shook Caracas after reports said the U.S. carried out military strikes in Venezuela. Smoke and fire were seen across the skyline as the attacks hit.
A few hours later, President Donald Trump confirmed the operation. In a Truth Social post on Saturday, January 3, he claimed Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and Maduro’s wife were captured and flown out of the country. Trump said the action was carried out with help from U.S. law enforcement. He also announced a news conference for 11 a.m. at Mar-a-Lago and promised more details.
The report says the operation was meant to remove Maduro from power. It also claims Maduro’s wife, Cilia Flores, was taken during the overnight raid.
Venezuela’s government strongly condemned the strikes. Officials said the attacks also affected the regions of Miranda, Aragua, and La Guaira. In a public statement, the government rejected what it called a serious act of U.S. military aggression.
Maduro, 63, became president in 2013 after Hugo Chávez died. He rose through Venezuela’s trade union movement and later took over Chávez’s political project. International critics have long accused Maduro of authoritarian rule and unfair elections.
Venezuela is rich in natural resources. It holds the world’s largest verified crude oil reserves and major mineral deposits, including lithium.
Cuba’s President Miguel Díaz-Canel condemned the U.S. action. AFP also reported that Colombia mobilized military resources near its border with Venezuela as the region waited to see what happens next.