Former US President Donald Trump has claimed that American forces carried out a large-scale military strike on Venezuela and captured the country’s leader, Nicolas Maduro, in a dramatic overnight operation that shook the nation’s capital, Caracas.
In a post on his Truth Social platform early Saturday, Trump said US troops had launched a “large scale strike” and successfully captured Maduro and his wife, adding that they had been flown out of the country. The announcement came just hours after multiple explosions were reported in Caracas.
“There was a lot of good planning and great troops involved,” Trump later told The New York Times in a brief phone interview, describing the operation as “brilliant.”
As of the time of the announcement, there was no independent confirmation from the Venezuelan government regarding Maduro’s whereabouts. However, authorities in Caracas accused the United States of carrying out an “extremely serious military aggression” against the country.
Residents of the capital described a night of fear and confusion. Explosions reportedly began around 2:00 a.m. local time and continued for nearly an hour, accompanied by the sound of helicopters overhead. Journalists and residents said flames and thick smoke were seen rising from Fuerte Tiuna, Venezuela’s largest military complex. Carlota airbase and areas around La Guaira, where the main airport and port are located, were also reportedly hit.
“I felt like the explosions lifted me out of bed,” said María Eugenia Escobar, a resident of La Guaira. “I knew something terrible was happening.”
Videos shared online showed helicopters flying low over the city, while parts of Caracas were plunged into darkness due to power cuts. Many residents said they hid in windowless rooms or began packing essential items in case the situation worsened.
Venezuela’s defence ministry accused the US of striking residential areas and announced a massive military deployment in response. The government said a state of emergency had been declared, though Maduro himself was not seen in public following the attacks.
The developments triggered international concern. Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro called for an emergency United Nations meeting and said troops were being deployed along the Venezuelan border. Meanwhile, reports emerged that Venezuela’s Supreme Court had named Vice President Delcy Rodríguez as interim president.
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Trump has repeatedly accused Maduro of leading a drug cartel and governing illegitimately following Venezuela’s disputed 2024 election. He has also pointed to Venezuela’s vast oil reserves as a source of long-standing tension between the two countries.
In recent months, the US had increased military and economic pressure on Caracas, including tighter sanctions, seizures of oil shipments, and reported strikes on suspected drug-smuggling vessels in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific.
As events continue to unfold, the situation remains fluid, with fears growing over the wider regional and humanitarian consequences of the escalating crisis.
