US forces have captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores in a military operation that struck Caracas early Saturday, with Donald Trump announcing the US will "run" Venezuela until a transition of power.
The overnight raid involved Delta Force special troops who seized the couple from their fortified residence at the Fuerte Tiuna military base. Helicopters flew them to the USS Iwo Jima warship in the Caribbean. Authorities are transporting them to New York to face criminal charges.
US Attorney General Pam Bondi announced indictments against both in the Southern District of New York. "They will soon face the full wrath of American justice on American soil in American courts," she said. Maduro faces charges including Narco-Terrorism Conspiracy, Cocaine Importation Conspiracy, and Possession of Machineguns and Destructive Devices against the United States.
The operation involved at least seven explosions across Caracas around 2am local time, targeting military bases including La Carlota airbase. Witnesses saw low-flying aircraft. Smoke rose from military installations. The strike lasted less than 30 minutes.
Trump's Plans for Venezuela
Trump told a press conference at Mar-a-Lago: "[...] we are going to run the country until such time as we can do a safe, proper and judicious transition." He warned the US was prepared for a "second wave, a much bigger wave" if necessary.
The US President said American oil companies would invest "billions of dollars" to "fix the badly broken infrastructure, the oil infrastructure, and start making money for the country."
Trump called the operation "brilliant" in an interview with Fox News, stating: "If you would've seen the speed, the violence, it was an amazing thing." He confirmed "a couple of guys were hit, but they came back and they're supposed to be in pretty good shape," with no US fatalities.
International Condemnation
The operation drew sharp criticism from multiple countries. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, through spokesman Stéphane Dujarric, expressed "deep alarm" and called the developments "a dangerous precedent," stating: "The secretary-general continues to emphasise the importance of full respect – by all – of international law, including the UN Charter."
Russia's Foreign Ministry condemned the action as "an act of armed aggression" and an "unacceptable infringement on the sovereignty of an independent state." Iran's Foreign Ministry called it a "flagrant violation of the country's national sovereignty."
Colombian President Gustavo Petro convened a national security meeting and deployed forces to the border, anticipating a "massive influx of refugees." He called for the UN Security Council to address "the aggression against the sovereignty of Venezuela and of Latin America."
Brazil's President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva said the intervention crossed "an unacceptable line."
UK Response
UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer confirmed Britain was "not involved in any way" in the operation and declined to immediately condemn it, stating he needed to "establish the facts" first.
"I will want to talk to the president. I will want to talk to allies, but at the moment, I think we need to establish the facts," Starmer told reporters. He emphasized that around 500 British nationals in Venezuela were being "safeguarded" through the UK embassy.
When asked about upholding international law, Starmer said: "[...] I always say and believe we should all uphold international law, but I think at this stage, fast-moving situation, let's establish the facts and take it from there."
UK political figures offered divergent views. Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey urged Starmer to condemn Trump's "illegal action," warning: "Trump is giving a green light to the likes of Putin and Xi to attack other countries with impunity."
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage called the actions "unorthodox and contrary to international law" but suggested: "If they make China and Russia think twice, it may be a good thing."
Venezuelan Government Response
Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez stated the government did not know Maduro's whereabouts and demanded "proof of life." The Venezuelan government declared a national emergency and urged citizens to mobilize against what it termed "imperialist aggression."
Venezuela's defence minister confirmed the operation targeted civilian areas and vowed the country would "resist" US aggression. Attorney General Tarek William Saab called the strike a "criminal terrorist attack" and claimed "innocent victims have been mortally wounded and others killed," though exact casualty figures remain unclear.
The Foreign Office updated travel guidance, advising against all travel to Venezuela. The Foreign Office told British nationals already there to "shelter in place" and maintain a "personal emergency plan" that does not depend on support from the UK Government, as Venezuelan authorities announced a "state of external commotion" that could lead to border and airspace closures.
Background
US authorities indicted Maduro in March 2020 on narco-terrorism charges during Trump's first term. The US had offered a $50 million reward for his arrest and designated the alleged Cartel de los Soles, which the US claims Maduro led, as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation.
The operation followed months of escalating US pressure on Venezuela, including naval deployments in the Caribbean and strikes on boats the US accused of drug trafficking. Since early September, US forces had conducted more than 35 strikes on vessels, resulting in at least 115 deaths according to Trump administration figures.
Opposition leader María Corina Machado, who won the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize, announced Venezuela was entering "decisive hours" and preparations to take power, though Trump did not endorse her as Maduro's successor.
Note: This article was created with Artificial Intelligence (AI).
