U.S. Launches Major Strikes on Venezuela as Trump Claims Capture of Maduro

Overview

• Explosions and overflights were reported overnight in Caracas and nearby states, Venezuela declared a state of emergency, and Vice President Delcy Rodríguez demanded proof of life for Nicolás Maduro and Cilia Flores.
• The U.S. president said Maduro and his wife were removed by air and are en route to New York to face narcotrafficking and terrorism charges, with Trump posting a photo purporting to show Maduro aboard a U.S. Navy ship.
• Attorney General announcements referenced federal charges, while Trump warned of a possible larger second wave of strikes and said no U.S. personnel were lost in the operation.
• Trump stated the U.S. would oversee Venezuela until a peaceful transition and invited American oil companies to invest, a stance Venezuela’s remaining leadership rejects as an illegal foreign intervention.
• Regional fallout intensified: Colombia and Cuba condemned the action, Argentina’s Javier Milei praised it, Brazil convened an emergency meeting to assess legality and risks, and Venezuelan officials sought urgent discussions at the U.N. Security Council.