CARACAS/WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump has declared that U.S. forces have captured Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro following a “large scale strike” on Venezuela. The announcement, made on his Truth Social platform, comes after explosions rocked the capital, Caracas, for nearly an hour in the early hours of Saturday morning, marking a dramatic escalation in long-running tensions between the two nations.
Explosions Rock Capital as Trump Hails “Brilliant” Operation
According to AFP journalists on the ground, Caracas was shaken by blasts and the sound of helicopters starting around 2:00 a.m. local time. Flames and smoke were seen rising from key military targets, including the massive Fuerte Tiuna army complex and the Carlota airbase. Explosions were also reported in La Guaira, the location of Caracas’s main airport and port.
“The United States of America has successfully carried out a large scale strike against Venezuela and its leader, President Nicolas Maduro, who has been, along with his wife, captured and flown out of the Country,” President Trump stated on Truth Social.
In a brief phone interview, Trump hailed the mission as a “brilliant” operation involving “a lot of good planning and lot of great, great troops and great people.” He is scheduled to hold a news conference later Saturday from his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida.
Venezuela Denounces “Extremely Serious Military Aggression”
Venezuela’s government issued a fierce condemnation, accusing the U.S. of an “extremely serious military aggression” and stating that Maduro had declared a state of emergency. However, there has been no independent confirmation of Maduro’s capture, and the 63-year-old socialist leader has not been seen publicly.
The Venezuelan defense ministry accused U.S. forces of targeting residential areas and announced a “massive deployment” of its military resources. The attack has sent shockwaves through the region, with Colombia’s leftist president, Gustavo Petro, calling for an emergency UN meeting and deploying troops to the border with Venezuela.
Residents Describe Night of Fear, Culmination of Months of Pressure
The strike triggered panic among residents. “I felt like (the explosions) lifted me out of bed, and I immediately thought, ‘God, the day has come,’ and I cried,” said María Eugenia Escobar, a 58-year-old from La Guaira. Others reported preparing emergency bags with passports and essential supplies.
The military action follows months of intensifying pressure from the Trump administration, which has accused Maduro of heading a drug cartel—a charge he denies. Recent U.S. moves have included closing Venezuelan airspace, imposing new sanctions, seizing oil tankers, and conducting strikes on boats allegedly involved in drug smuggling, which have killed over 100 people since September.
