CARACAS, Venezuela — The United States carried out what it described as a “large-scale strike” on Venezuela early Saturday and said President Nicolás Maduro was captured and flown out of the country, marking a dramatic escalation after months of pressure on his government.
The extraordinary overnight operation was announced by Donald Trump on social media hours after explosions were reported across parts of the Venezuelan capital. Trump said Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, had been detained in an operation conducted alongside U.S. law enforcement. A White House news conference was scheduled for later Saturday.
The legal basis for the strike — and whether Congress was consulted beforehand — was not immediately clear. The action evoked comparisons to the 1990 U.S. invasion of Panama that resulted in the capture of leader Manuel Noriega, an operation that occurred 36 years ago to the day.
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi said Maduro and Flores would face charges in the United States, citing an indictment in New York. Maduro and other senior Venezuelan officials were indicted in 2020 on narcotics-related conspiracy charges; it was unclear whether Bondi was referring to new charges against Flores.
Explosions reported in Caracas
Multiple explosions and low-flying aircraft were reported in Caracas early Saturday. Venezuela’s government accused the United States of attacking both civilian and military sites, calling the action an “imperialist attack” and urging citizens to mobilize.
With Maduro’s whereabouts unknown, Venezuelan law stipulates that Vice President Delcy Rodríguez would assume power. While there was no confirmation that a formal transfer had occurred, Rodríguez issued a statement demanding proof of life for Maduro and Flores. She said some civilians and members of the military were killed in the strikes but did not provide figures.
Trump said the operation lasted less than 30 minutes and was carried out “successfully.” The Pentagon referred questions about the safety of U.S. personnel to the White House, which did not immediately respond to questions about where Maduro and his wife were being taken.
Maduro last appeared publicly on state television Friday, meeting with a delegation of Chinese officials in Caracas.
Rising tensions and regional reaction
The strike followed a sustained pressure campaign by the Trump administration, including a buildup of U.S. forces off South America’s coast and a series of maritime strikes targeting vessels accused of drug trafficking in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific. Last week, a drone strike attributed to the CIA hit a docking area allegedly used by Venezuelan drug cartels — the first publicly known U.S. strike on Venezuelan soil since operations began in September.
U.S. officials say at least 35 boats have been targeted, with a reported death toll of at least 115. Trump has described the campaign as part of an “armed conflict” with drug cartels, framing it as necessary to stem the flow of narcotics into the United States. Maduro has rejected that claim, calling the operations an effort to remove him from power.
In Caracas, the government called supporters into the streets. Armed civilians and members of a pro-government militia were seen mobilizing in neighborhoods long considered ruling-party strongholds. At a rally, Caracas Mayor Carmen Meléndez joined crowds chanting for Maduro’s return.
Elsewhere in the city, streets were largely quiet hours after the strike, with some neighborhoods without power. Residents described fear and uncertainty as they sought information.
International and U.S. political response
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration closed Venezuelan airspace — and that over nearby Curaçao — to U.S. aircraft due to ongoing military activity. The U.S. Embassy in Venezuela, closed since 2019, advised Americans to shelter in place.
Congressional leaders said they had not been formally notified of the operation. Connecticut Rep. Jim Himes, the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, questioned the administration’s authority to act without congressional approval and demanded an immediate briefing.
International reaction was swift. Cuba, a key Maduro ally, condemned the strike, with President Miguel Díaz-Canel calling it a “criminal attack.” Iran also denounced the action. By contrast, Argentina’s President Javier Milei praised Trump’s claim that Maduro had been captured, hailing it as a victory for freedom.
As of early Saturday, many details — including the fate of Venezuela’s leadership and whether further U.S. military action is planned — remained unclear, as the region braced for the next developments following one of the most dramatic interventions in Latin America in decades.