President Donald Trump announced that the United States successfully executed a large-scale strike against Venezuela, resulting in the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, who were subsequently flown out of the country, reports Baltimore Chronicle with reference to ABC. The statement came shortly before 4:30 a.m. local time on Saturday, following eyewitness accounts of multiple explosions in Caracas, with accompanying images and videos showing smoke plumes and a significant fireball in the night sky.
According to Trump, the operation was conducted in coordination with U.S. law enforcement agencies. He announced plans to hold a press conference at 11 a.m. from Mar-a-Lago to provide additional details. Attorney General Pam Bondi stated that Maduro and his wife will face U.S. courts on charges that include narco-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine importation conspiracy, and weapons violations. The couple has long been under indictment in New York, with Maduro specifically facing charges for years.
Sources familiar with the mission told reporters that Maduro is being transported to New York. While the specific detention location has not been confirmed, federal defendants awaiting trial in Manhattan are typically held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn. The capture was carried out by Delta Force, the U.S. Army’s elite special operations unit, after the CIA provided precise intelligence on Maduro’s location. Delta Force is trained in high-risk counterterrorism and hostage recovery operations.
One source indicated that President Trump had authorized the operation several days prior, originally planning for a Christmas Day execution. Delays were caused by concurrent U.S. military airstrikes in Nigeria against ISIS and adverse weather conditions. CBS News first reported details of the mission.
In a brief call with The New York Times, Trump described the operation as a “brilliant success,” emphasizing the careful planning and execution by U.S. forces. When asked about congressional authorization or next steps for Venezuela, Trump deferred comment until the scheduled Mar-a-Lago briefing.
Republican Senator Mike Lee said he consulted with Secretary of State Marco Rubio about the legality of the operation, given no formal declaration of war or authorization for military force. Rubio confirmed that Maduro was arrested to face U.S. criminal charges and that no further military action in Venezuela is anticipated while he is in custody. ABC contributor Mick Mulroy, a former CIA officer, described the operation as “extremely dangerous,” requiring precise intelligence, extensive planning, and flawless execution.
Several Republican lawmakers praised Trump’s actions. Senator Rick Scott referred to the operation as “a new day for Venezuela and Latin America,” while Senator Tom Cotton noted that Maduro was not only a dictator but also operated a vast drug-trafficking network. In contrast, Democrats criticized the action. Senator Ruben Gallego described it as an illegal and unnecessary military intervention.
The strike occurs amid rising U.S.-Venezuela tensions, including a buildup of U.S. forces in the Caribbean, targeting of suspected drug-smuggling vessels, and deployment of approximately 15,000 personnel, along with the USS Gerald Ford aircraft carrier. The mission followed a prior land strike against a dock allegedly used for drug shipments.
The Venezuelan government condemned the U.S. operation, labeling it a “grave military aggression” across Caracas and the states of Miranda, Aragua, and La Guaira. Maduro ordered national defense measures and declared a “state of External Disturbance” throughout Venezuela. Russia criticized the strike as “armed aggression,” while Colombian President Gustavo Petro called for global attention. Conversely, Argentine President Javier Milei praised the action.
In November, the Trump administration had declared Maduro the head of a foreign terrorist organization, citing alleged ties to drug cartels. Maduro has repeatedly denied these allegations. U.S. authorities have pursued narcotics-terrorism charges against him since 2020, accusing him of collaborating with Colombian rebels to flood the United States with cocaine. Additional charges include weapons violations and leading a criminal enterprise for over two decades, allegedly using state resources to facilitate international drug trafficking.
Earlier we wrote that Dozens killed, around 100 injured in Swiss Alps bar fire on New Year’s Day.
