Overview
- President Trump said U.S. forces conducted air, land and sea strikes in Caracas, captured Nicolás Maduro and his wife, and removed them from Venezuela.
- He asserted Maduro threatened U.S. security, pledged active U.S. involvement in shaping Venezuela’s future, and said forces stand ready to strike again if required.
- The Pentagon notified Congress that the operation incurred no American casualties or equipment losses.
- Venezuela declared a state of emergency, condemned the action as aggression, reported uncertainty over Maduro’s whereabouts, and accused Washington of violating U.S. law by bypassing Congress.
- Responses included broad international criticism, an Israeli statement of support, expected U.N. Security Council wrangling likely to face a U.S. veto, a halt to U.S. deportation flights, and a declaration by opposition leader María Corina Machado that her bloc is ready to assume authority.