Overview
- Explosions and air operations struck military sites in Caracas and nearby states for roughly 90 minutes, with fires and power outages reported near major bases including Fuerte Tiuna and La Carlota.
- Vice President Delcy Rodríguez said the government does not know the whereabouts of Nicolás Maduro or Cilia Flores and demanded proof of life as officials reported deaths without releasing figures.
- Senator Mike Lee said Secretary of State Marco Rubio told him Maduro was arrested to face criminal charges in the United States and that no further U.S. military action is expected.
- Russia, Iran and Cuba denounced the strike as a violation of Venezuela’s sovereignty, while the European Union said Maduro lacks legitimacy and urged restraint and respect for international law.
- The operation followed months of escalation including a regional U.S. military buildup, dozens of strikes on alleged drug‑smuggling vessels, expanded sanctions and a $50 million bounty tied to Maduro’s 2020 narco‑terrorism case.