Trump claims US has captured Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro

CARACAS, Venezuela — The United States carried out what it described as a “large-scale strike” on Venezuela early Saturday and claimed that President Nicolás Maduro had been captured and flown out of the country in a dramatic overnight operation, marking an unprecedented escalation in Washington’s months-long campaign against the Maduro government.

U.S. President Donald Trump announced the operation on social media hours after multiple explosions were reported in Caracas and other areas, saying Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, had been seized in coordination with U.S. law enforcement. Trump said the strikes were conducted “successfully” and scheduled a news conference later Saturday.

The legal basis for the military action, including whether Congress was consulted in advance, was not immediately clear. The operation drew comparisons to the 1990 U.S. invasion of Panama that resulted in the arrest of then-leader Manuel Antonio Noriega.

U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi said Maduro and Flores would face criminal charges in the United States following an indictment in New York. In a social media post, Bondi said the couple would “soon face the full wrath of American justice on American soil in American courts.” Maduro was indicted in 2020 on narco-terrorism conspiracy charges, though it was previously unknown that Flores had also been indicted.

In Venezuela, the government accused the United States of attacking civilian and military installations, calling the strikes an “imperialist attack” and urging citizens to take to the streets. Explosions and low-flying aircraft were reported in the capital, sending residents fleeing outdoors as blasts lit up the night sky. At least seven explosions were reported, and the attack reportedly lasted less than 30 minutes.

With Maduro’s whereabouts unconfirmed, Vice President Delcy Rodríguez said Venezuelan authorities had no proof that the president and first lady were in U.S. custody.

“We do not know the whereabouts of President Nicolás Maduro and First Lady Cilia Flores,” Rodríguez said in a statement. “We demand proof of life.”

Under Venezuelan law, Rodríguez would assume power if Maduro were incapacitated or removed, though there was no confirmation that a transfer of authority had taken place.

Maduro last appeared publicly on Friday on state television during a meeting with a Chinese delegation in Caracas.

The strike followed months of escalating U.S. pressure on Venezuela, including a buildup of American forces near South America and repeated attacks on boats accused of drug trafficking in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific. Last week, U.S. intelligence was reportedly behind a drone strike on a Venezuelan docking area believed to be linked to drug cartels, the first known direct U.S. operation on Venezuelan soil in recent months.

The Trump administration has said at least 35 boat strikes have been carried out, resulting in a minimum of 115 deaths. Trump has described the campaign as part of an “armed conflict” with drug cartels, framing the operations as necessary to curb the flow of illegal drugs into the United States.

U.S. Senator Mike Lee of Utah said Secretary of State Marco Rubio briefed him on the operation and confirmed that Maduro had been arrested by U.S. personnel to face trial in the United States. The White House, however, did not immediately respond to questions about where Maduro and Flores were being taken.

In Caracas, conditions remained tense. Armed individuals and members of a civilian militia loyal to the ruling party were seen patrolling some neighborhoods, while other parts of the city remained largely deserted hours after the attack. Power outages were reported in parts of the capital, though traffic continued to move.

Video footage verified by The Associated Press showed tracer fire, smoke, and repeated explosions illuminating the night sky over Caracas and an unidentified coastal city. Smoke was seen rising from a military base hangar in the capital, and at least one military installation reportedly lost power.

“The whole ground shook. This is horrible,” said Carmen Hidalgo, a 21-year-old office worker who was returning from a birthday gathering when the explosions began. “We heard explosions and planes. We felt like the air was hitting us.”

Venezuela’s government declared a “state of external disturbance,” saying Maduro had ordered the implementation of all national defense plans — a move that allows authorities to suspend certain civil liberties and expand the role of the armed forces.

The U.S. Embassy in Venezuela, which has been closed since 2019, issued an online advisory urging American citizens in the country to shelter in place. The Federal Aviation Administration also warned U.S. pilots that airspace over Venezuela and nearby Curaçao was closed due to ongoing military activity.

Officials at the Pentagon and U.S. Southern Command did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Members of Congress from both parties have previously raised objections to U.S. military actions linked to anti-drug operations near Venezuela, noting that Congress has not authorized the use of military force in the region.

International reaction was swift. Cuba and Iran condemned the strikes, with Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel calling them a “criminal attack” and urging the international community to respond. Argentine President Javier Milei, a close ally of Trump, praised the reported capture of Maduro, declaring, “Long live freedom, damn it!”

As of Saturday evening, key questions remained unanswered, including the full scope of the U.S. operation, the status of Venezuela’s leadership, and whether further military actions are planned.