US President Donald Trump announced early Saturday that the United States carried out a “large scale strike” against Venezuela and that Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife have been “captured and flown out of the country,” marking a dramatic escalation in US–Venezuelan tensions and prompting a national emergency declaration in Caracas.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said the operation was conducted “in conjunction with U.S. law enforcement” and promised further details at a news conference scheduled later in the day at Mar-a-Lago.
He did not provide independent evidence to corroborate the claim of Maduro’s capture.
Explosions and military aircraft were reported over Venezuela’s capital, Caracas, and other regions early Saturday morning, with residents describing loud blasts and smoke rising over key installations.
Venezuelan authorities say the strikes hit both civilian and military targets, though independent verification of the scope and impact of the attacks remains limited.
In response, the Venezuelan government condemned what it described as “military aggression” by the United States, declared a national emergency, and urged citizens and political organisations to mobilise against what Caracas called an imperialist attack on its sovereignty.
President Maduro ordered the implementation of national defence plans amid the unfolding crisis.
The reported strikes represent a significant escalation after months of rising tensions between Washington and Caracas, which have included US accusations that the Maduro government is involved in drug trafficking and regional instability.
In recent months, the United States has conducted multiple strikes on vessels and facilities linked by US officials to narco-trafficking operations off Venezuela’s coast.
Despite Trump’s assertion of Maduro’s capture, independent confirmation from international news agencies, Venezuelan officials, or third-party observers is not yet available.
US military and government spokespeople have largely deferred comment to the White House, and global reactions from other countries were still forming at the time of publication.
The situation remains highly fluid, with the potential to reshape geopolitical alignments in the Americas, raise questions about the legality of US actions under international law, and trigger broader regional responses.
Further reporting is expected as more verified information becomes available.