In a stunning military operation that has sent shockwaves across the globe, President Donald Trump announced early this morning, Saturday, January 3, 2026, that U.S. forces have captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.
The capture followed a series of coordinated, “large-scale” airstrikes on key military and strategic installations across Venezuela, including the capital city of Caracas.
According to U.S. officials and a Truth Social post from President Trump, the operation was executed by the U.S. Army’s elite Delta Force in conjunction with U.S. law enforcement.
Trump confirmed at approximately 4:30 AM ET that Maduro and his wife were apprehended and “flown out of the country.“
Secretary of State Marco Rubio reportedly informed lawmakers that Maduro was arrested to stand trial on criminal charges in the United States, where he has long been indicted for narcoterrorism.
Explosions rocked Caracas starting around 2:00 AM local time, with strikes targeting Fuerte Tiuna (the main military complex) and La Carlota airbase.
The Venezuelan government, led by Vice President Delcy Rodríguez, has condemned the move as “grave military aggression” and a violation of international law.
Before reports of his capture were finalized, Maduro reportedly ordered a national emergency and called for a “massive deployment” of defense forces.
Vice President Rodríguez stated that the government currently does not know the whereabouts of the President and First Lady, demanding “immediate proof of life.“
Government channels have urged citizens to take to the streets to “repudiate this imperialist attack.“
The sudden escalation has drawn immediate and polarized responses from world leaders:
| Country/Entity | Stance | Key Quote/Action |
| Russia 🇷🇺 | Condemnation | Called it an “act of armed aggression” and a violation of sovereignty. |
| Iran 🇮🇷 | Condemnation | Denounced the “flagrant violation of territorial integrity.” |
| Argentina 🇦🇷 | Support | President Javier Milei praised the move: “Long live freedom, dammit!” |
| European Union 🇪🇺 | Concern | Monitoring closely; calling for “restraint” and “further dialogue.” |
This operation is the culmination of Operation Southern Spear, a five-month military pressure campaign led by the Trump administration. Since August 2025, the U.S. had surged warships, including the USS Gerald R. Ford, to the Caribbean.
Washington has framed the conflict as a war against “narcoterrorism,” accusing Maduro of working with international drug cartels to flood the U.S. with narcotics.
President Trump is currently scheduled to hold a major press briefing at 11:00 AM local time today at his Mar-a-Lago residence to provide further details.
Russia and other nations are expected to call for an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council to discuss the strikes.
It remains unclear who is effectively in control of Venezuela’s military as the country enters its first day without its longtime leader.
