[Discussion] US Strikes Venezuela as Trump Says President Maduro Captured

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U.S. Launches Strikes in Venezuela, Trump Claims Maduro Captured

The United States conducted large-scale military strikes across Venezuela in the early hours of Jan. 3, with President Donald Trump stating that Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife were captured by U.S. forces and removed from the country. Trump announced the operation on Truth Social, describing it as a coordinated action involving the U.S. military and law enforcement. He said additional details would be provided at a news conference later in the day.

Explosions were reported in Caracas beginning around 1:50 a.m. local time, with airstrikes lasting roughly an hour. Power outages were reported in parts of the capital, and blasts were also reported in other regions of the country. There has been no confirmed casualty count.

Military Operations and Arrest Claims

According to U.S. officials cited by CBS News, the operation included a direct action mission by the Army’s 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta, commonly known as Delta Force, to arrest Maduro. He was indicted in a U.S. federal court in 2020 on narcoterrorism charges. Senator Mike Lee of Utah said Secretary of State Marco Rubio told him Maduro would be transported to the United States to face trial and that the strikes were intended to protect personnel executing the arrest warrant.

Reuters, the Wall Street Journal, and CBS News confirmed that U.S. forces carried out the strikes, while the Pentagon referred inquiries to the White House. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth publicly shared Trump’s statement but did not provide further details.

Venezuelan Government Response

Venezuela’s government condemned the strikes as a “military aggression.” Foreign Minister Yván Gil Pinto accused the United States of attacking multiple sites, including in Caracas and the surrounding states of Miranda, Aragua, and La Guaira. Maduro declared a state of emergency and ordered the activation of national defense plans. Vice President Delcy Rodríguez said the government did not know Maduro’s whereabouts and demanded proof of life.

Gil requested an urgent meeting of the United Nations Security Council. Colombian President Gustavo Petro reported missile attacks on Caracas but did not explicitly identify the United States as responsible.

Regional Buildup and Targeting

U.S. preparations reportedly included a months-long military buildup in the Caribbean. Assets in the region include the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford, its carrier strike group, the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group with the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, multiple fighter squadrons, and special operations aviation units. Venezuelan opposition figures said the strikes hit key military bases and ports.

On the eve of the attack, the U.S. seized two oil tankers near Venezuela and struck more than 30 vessels accused of drug trafficking. Since September, U.S. forces have carried out dozens of strikes against suspected smuggling vessels, actions Washington frames as counter-narcotics operations.

International Reaction and Escalating Tensions

Russia, a close Venezuelan ally, condemned the strikes as an act of armed aggression and reaffirmed support for Caracas, calling for Latin America to remain a “zone of peace.” Moscow and Caracas signed a strategic partnership agreement in May 2025.

U.S.–Venezuela relations have deteriorated sharply in recent months. Measures have included sanctions on Maduro’s relatives, a blockade of sanctioned oil tankers, and the closure of U.S. airspace over Venezuela. While Maduro recently signaled openness to talks on drug trafficking and energy investment, U.S. officials have acknowledged that recent pressure was also intended to force political change.

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