Overview
- Explosions and low-flying aircraft were reported across Caracas overnight, with power outages near key sites including Fort Tiuna, La Carlota air base, El Volcán antenna and the port of La Guaira, according to multiple outlets.
- President Trump announced a large-scale U.S. operation, stating that Nicolás Maduro and his wife were detained and removed from Venezuela, and he scheduled a press conference for 11 a.m. local time.
- CBS News, citing unnamed U.S. officials, reported that Delta Force operators carried out Maduro’s detention, though operational details have not been publicly confirmed.
- Venezuelan authorities declared a state of emergency, the U.S. Embassy advised Americans to avoid travel and depart the country, and Poland’s prime minister said the developments carry global implications.
- Separate from Venezuela, Ukraine’s General Staff reported 116 combat engagements on Jan. 2, estimated about 750 Russian personnel losses for the day, and confirmed a Kharkiv rocket strike that killed a woman and a 3-year-old boy and wounded 27, with city officials counting damage to at least 32 buildings.