AP – The United States carried out a large-scale military strike on Venezuela early Saturday, triggering explosions in the capital, Caracas.
US President Donald Trump said Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro had been captured and flown out of the country.
Trump announced the operation on social media several hours after the attack, saying Maduro and his wife were detained during a joint operation involving US law enforcement. He said more details would be shared later and scheduled a news conference for Saturday morning.
Residents in Caracas reported hearing multiple explosions and seeing low-flying aircraft. Venezuela’s government accused the United States of attacking both civilian and military sites, calling the operation an “imperialist attack” and urging citizens to protest.It was not immediately clear who was in charge of the country following the strike.
Under Venezuelan law, Vice President Delcy Rodríguez would assume power if the president is unable to govern.
Rodríguez released a statement saying the government did not know Maduro’s whereabouts and demanded proof that he was alive.
US officials did not immediately confirm where Maduro and his wife were taken.
Maduro has been under US indictment since 2020 on charges related to drug trafficking and terrorism conspiracy.
US Senator Mike Lee said he was briefed on the operation by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who told him that Maduro had been arrested by US personnel to face criminal charges in the United States.
The White House did not respond to questions about the operation or Maduro’s destination.
Before the attack, the US Federal Aviation Administration suspended US commercial flights in Venezuelan airspace due to ongoing military activity.Maduro last appeared on Venezuelan state television on Friday during a meeting with Chinese officials in Caracas.
There were no immediate reports of casualties from the strike, which reportedly lasted less than 30 minutes.The attack follows months of rising tension between Washington and Caracas.
The Trump administration has increased pressure on Maduro, accusing his government of links to drug trafficking networks. US officials say intelligence agencies, including the Central Intelligence Agency, have recently carried out operations targeting suspected cartel activity in Venezuela.
Maduro has repeatedly rejected the accusations and described US actions as an attempt to remove him from power.