Overview
- Residents reported multiple pre-dawn explosions and low-flying aircraft over Caracas and nearby states, with strikes cited at sites such as Fuerte Tiuna and La Carlota and the FAA barring U.S. flights over Venezuelan airspace.
- President Trump posted that Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were captured and flown out of Venezuela during a large-scale operation, saying more details would follow at an 11 a.m. ET briefing in Mar-a-Lago.
- Venezuelan leaders condemned what they called a “gravísima agresión militar,” activated emergency defense measures, and said they do not know the whereabouts of Maduro and Flores, demanding proof of life.
- Independent confirmation of the reported capture and removal remains unavailable, and authorities have not provided a verified accounting of casualties or damage from the overnight strikes.
- International reaction is sharply divided, with Russia, Iran, Cuba, Colombia, Brazil and others condemning the action, Argentina and Ecuador praising it, and European voices including Spain and the EU urging de-escalation and adherence to international law.