On January 3, 2026, U.S. President Donald Trump said that American forces executed a “large scale strike” against Venezuela overnight and captured President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, asserting they had been “flown out of the country.” The announcement, made in a Truth Social post early Saturday, followed months of U.S. pressure on Venezuela over alleged drug trafficking and questions about the legitimacy of last year’s election. Trump said the operation was carried out “in conjunction with U.S. Law Enforcement” and that more details would be provided at an 11 a.m. (1600 GMT) press conference at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida. A U.S. official told Reuters that elite special forces troops were responsible for capturing Maduro.

Explosions in Capital and States

Explosions and aircraft activity were reported in Venezuela’s capital, Caracas, and in the states of Miranda, Aragua, and La Guaira in the early hours of Saturday, according to Reuters witnesses and social media imagery. Witnesses said blasts and black smoke were visible across Caracas from about 2 a.m. (0600 GMT) for roughly 90 minutes. Helicopters were seen flying amid plumes of smoke. A power outage affected the southern area of Caracas near a major military base, and local media linked to the ruling party said explosions had taken place near the Fuerte Tiuna and La Carlota military bases.

Caracas Defiance, Regional Reaction

Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino issued a defiant statement on state media around the same time Trump posted his message. “Free, independent and sovereign Venezuela rejects with all the strength of its libertarian history the presence of these foreign troops,” he said, urging unity and resistance. There was no detail from Caracas confirming Maduro’s capture or departure.

Cuba and Iran were quick to condemn the strikes. Tehran called the action “a blatant violation of national sovereignty and territorial integrity” and urged the United Nations Security Council to intervene to stop what it termed “unlawful aggression.”

U.S. Buildup and Legal Questions

Trump’s announcement comes amid a significant U.S. military presence in the region, with an aircraft carrier, warships, and advanced fighter jets stationed in the Caribbean. In recent months, the U.S. has expanded sanctions, pursued a blockade of Venezuelan oil, and struck more than two dozen vessels it alleges were involved in drug trafficking in the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea, operations that have killed more than 110 people. It was unclear under what legal authority the latest strikes were conducted, and legal experts have raised questions about the legality of prior actions against suspected drug vessels.