Overview
- U.S. officials claimed responsibility for coordinated overnight attacks on military and strategic sites in Caracas and nearby states, with residents posting videos of explosions, aircraft overflights and power outages.
- President Donald Trump said Maduro and Cilia Flores were seized and flown out of Venezuela, called the operation “brilliant,” and later shared an image purporting to show Maduro in custody as Venezuela’s vice president requested a proof of life.
- Trump stated the United States will oversee a provisional transition and pursue prosecution tied to the 2020 U.S. narcoterrorism indictment, signaled openness to U.S. oil company involvement and warned of a potential larger second wave of strikes.
- Venezuelan authorities condemned a “grave military aggression,” declared a state of exception and announced a nationwide mobilization, with the defense minister saying officials are assessing casualties after reported strikes on Fuerte Tiuna, La Carlota and other sites.
- International reaction fractured, with Russia, China, Mexico, Brazil and others condemning the action, Argentina and several opposition figures praising it, Colombia reinforcing its border deployments, and the U.N. secretary-general voicing deep alarm.