Overview
- Venezuelan authorities blamed the United States for coordinated bombings as state television showed heavy damage at La Carlota air base and reports cited strikes near Fuerte Tiuna.
- CBS News, citing U.S. administration sources, reported that President Donald Trump ordered the operation, and he later claimed Nicolás Maduro was captured and taken to New York, a claim not independently verified.
- Additional sites reported hit included Puerto La Guaira, the El Volcán communications facility, and the Higuerote airport, with residents describing explosions and low-flying aircraft overnight.
- The government declared a nationwide state of “Conmoción Exterior,” closing borders and expanding executive powers, while Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino said missiles and rockets struck civilian housing as power and phone outages were reported.
- Regional leaders including Colombia’s Gustavo Petro and Cuba’s Miguel Díaz-Canel condemned the attacks, and the New York Times reported at least 40 deaths, while Trump told Fox News that U.S. forces had injuries but no fatalities.