The United States launched a large-scale military attack on Venezuela early Saturday, capturing President Nicolás Maduro in an operation that sharply escalates U.S. involvement in the country’s long-running political and security crisis. President Donald Trump said Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were captured and flown out of the country, and they arrived in the U.S. face trails.  

The operation targeted Venezuelan military and government facilities around Caracas, where residents reported explosions, aircraft activity, and widespread power outages. U.S. officials described the strike as swift and decisive, aimed at removing Maduro from power and dismantling criminal networks tied to his government.

According to U.S. officials, the mission to capture Maduro was carried out by the U.S. Army’s Delta Force, an elite special operations unit, as part of Operation Absolute Resolve. Final approval for the mission was given late Friday night. More than 150 aircraft launched from approximately 20 bases across the Western Hemisphere, with helicopters flying at low altitude toward the Venezuelan capital. U.S. forces disabled Venezuelan air defense systems to allow the extraction team to reach its target.

Once on the ground, U.S. forces and federal law enforcement entered a compound near Caracas. Officials said Maduro and his wife surrendered and were taken into custody. President Trump said Maduro attempted to escape but was captured before reaching a secure location.

The Trump administration framed the attack as part of a broader anti-cartel and counter–narcotics operation. U.S. authorities have long accused Maduro and senior members of his government of working with international drug trafficking organizations and gangs designated by the United States as terrorist groups. Attorney General Pam Bondi announced a superseding indictment, expanding on charges first filed in 2020, accusing Maduro and others of narco-terrorism and conspiracy to import cocaine into the United States. Maduro has repeatedly denied the allegations.

Maduro and Flores were flown to the United States and arrived in New York later Saturday on Jan 3, 2026 where they are expected to face federal charges.

Following the operation, President Trump said the United States would temporarily manage Venezuela during a transition period. He stated that the U.S. would oversee security, stabilize government functions, and restart the country’s oil industry, saying the administration would “get the oil flowing.” The announcement immediately raised legal and diplomatic questions about sovereignty and the scope of U.S. authority.

The strike came after months of U.S. military buildup in the region, including the deployment of the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford and other warships to the Caribbean. The administration has also cited a series of earlier strikes on vessels it says were carrying illegal drugs.

The operation triggered sharp reactions in Washington and abroad. Some U.S. lawmakers praised the mission as a major blow against organized crime, while others criticized the lack of advance congressional notification and questioned the legality of placing Venezuela under U.S. control.

With Maduro now in U.S. custody and Washington signaling plans to oversee a political transition, Venezuela faces deep uncertainty. How long U.S. involvement will last, who will govern the country next, and how the international community will respond remain open questions as the situation continues to unfold.

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