Overview
- President Trump said U.S. forces conducted a large‑scale operation and that Nicolás Maduro and Cilia Flores were taken out of the country, with details promised at an 11 a.m. ET news conference at Mar‑a‑Lago.
- Vice President Delcy Rodríguez said the government does not know the couple’s whereabouts and demanded a proof of life as emergency measures and a broad defense deployment were activated.
- Residents and videos reported overnight explosions and low‑flying aircraft over Caracas and nearby states, with strikes cited at Fuerte Tiuna, La Carlota and the coastal area of La Guaira.
- The FAA barred U.S. commercial flights over Venezuelan airspace due to ongoing military activity, issuing a NOTAM hours before the blasts.
- International reaction split sharply, with Colombia, Russia and Iran condemning the action as a sovereignty violation, Argentina’s Javier Milei cheering the announcement, and Spain offering to help mediate.