Overview
- Venezuela’s Supreme Court assigned presidential duties to Vice President Delsi Rodríguez and the government declared a state of emergency after reported overnight strikes in Caracas.
- U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi said Nicolás Maduro will face prosecution on narco‑terrorism and related charges, with news reports indicating an initial court appearance could occur on January 5.
- House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries called the action an act of war requiring congressional approval, and senior officials plan a closed bipartisan briefing on Monday evening.
- Russia and China demanded the release of Maduro and his wife, and Venezuelan authorities requested an emergency United Nations Security Council session.
- Separately, the United Kingdom and France said their jets struck an underground Islamic State facility near Palmyra using Paveway IV precision bombs, reporting a successful strike with no nearby civilian settlements.