Overview
- President Donald Trump said a large-scale operation captured Nicolás Maduro and Cilia Flores, claimed they were flown out of Venezuela, and announced an 11 a.m. Mar-a-Lago press conference.
- Vice President Delcy Rodríguez said the government does not know the couple’s whereabouts, demanded immediate proof of life, and condemned the strikes as a violation of international law.
- Reports from Caracas described multiple pre-dawn explosions, low-flying aircraft, fires, and power outages affecting several areas of the capital and nearby states.
- Foreign Minister Yvan Gil requested an emergency U.N. Security Council session, while Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López denounced a “criminal” regime-change operation; Russia and Iran issued condemnations, and Colombia prepared for possible refugee flows.
- Unverified photos purporting to show Maduro’s detention circulated online, and some outlets cited unnamed U.S. officials pointing to Delta Force, but independent confirmation of the capture and imagery remains outstanding.