Overview
- President Donald Trump announced a large‑scale strike in Venezuela and said Nicolás Maduro and his wife were captured and flown out of the country, with a news conference set at Mar‑a‑Lago.
- U.S. officials told multiple outlets that Army Delta Force carried out the seizure with CIA intelligence support, as explosions and low‑flying aircraft were reported over Caracas around 2 a.m. local time.
- Venezuelan authorities said the leaders’ whereabouts were unknown and demanded proof of life while alleging civilian casualties during the operation.
- Maduro and Cilia Flores are being moved toward U.S. custody to face existing federal indictments, with reporting that an initial court appearance in New York could come as soon as Monday.
- Trump and U.S. officials described months of rehearsals, including a replica of the target residence, with no U.S. fatalities reported and legal and regional sovereignty concerns now intensifying.