Overview
- U.S. officials say the overnight mission, dubbed Absolute Resolve, lasted about two hours and twenty minutes, involved more than 150 aircraft, disabled air defenses, induced a Caracas blackout and saw special-operations teams secure the capture with no U.S. fatalities.
- Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were removed from Venezuela and transported to New York to face Southern District of New York charges that include narcoterrorism and drug trafficking, with an initial court appearance expected Monday.
- Trump announced the United States will temporarily manage Venezuela until a “safe” transition and said U.S. oil companies will move into the country’s energy sector, adding that ground troops could be deployed if necessary.
- The operation drew condemnation from the UN, Russia, China, Iran and Cuba, split Latin American governments, and prompted Brazil to recognize Vice President Delcy Rodríguez as interim leader as Colombia mobilized forces along the border.
- Reports from Caracas describe explosions, power and internet outages, military checkpoints and armored vehicles in the streets, with Venezuelan authorities alleging civilian and military casualties that have not been independently verified.