U.S. launches strikes on Venezuela, Trump says Maduro captured
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – The United States carried out a large-scale military strike against Venezuela, and Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife were captured and flown out of the country, U.S. President Donald Trump announced early Saturday.
Trump made the claim in a post on his social media platform, saying the operation was successful and carried out “in conjunction with US law enforcement.” He said further details would be released during a press conference scheduled at Mar-a-Lago later in the day.
The announcement came amid reports of explosions and low-flying aircraft over Caracas, with multiple locations targeted, including military installations and infrastructure.
Venezuela’s government condemned the strikes as an “illegal act of military aggression” and accused Washington of attempting to enforce regime change and seize national resources.
In response to the apparent attack, Maduro declared a state of emergency and ordered the mobilization of Venezuela’s popular defense forces across the country, pledging resistance against what he described as imperialist aggression.
The strikes represent a dramatic escalation in bilateral tensions that have risen over recent months. The Trump administration has repeatedly accused Maduro of involvement in drug trafficking and narcoterrorism, designating elements of the Venezuelan government as terrorist actors under US law — a move that analysts say is used to justify expanded pressure, though it does not itself provide clear legal authority for lethal force.
While the full scope and implications of the operation remain unclear, global reactions began pouring in. Venezuela’s allies and neighbouring states have denounced the strikes, with calls for emergency meetings at the United Nations and the Organization of American States to address the crisis.
At the time of publication, independent verification of Maduro’s capture and transport outside Venezuela beyond Trump’s announcement has not been confirmed by other official sources.
Relations between the United States and Venezuela have been tense for more than two decades, marked by political confrontation, economic sanctions, and mutual accusations of interference and destabilization.
Tensions escalated sharply after the late Venezuelan president Hugo Chávez adopted an anti-US foreign policy in the early 2000s, aligning Caracas with Washington’s adversaries and promoting a socialist agenda across Latin America.
Following Chávez’s death in 2013, his successor Nicolás Maduro inherited both the presidency and strained relations with the United States.
Washington has repeatedly accused the Maduro government of undermining democracy, committing human rights violations, and overseeing widespread corruption and drug trafficking.
In response, the US imposed successive rounds of sanctions targeting Venezuelan officials, state institutions, and the oil sector, which remains the backbone of the country’s economy.
In 2019, the United States recognized opposition leader Juan Guaidó as Venezuela’s interim president, intensifying the political crisis and deepening the diplomatic rupture. Caracas responded by severing formal diplomatic ties with Washington, accusing it of orchestrating coup attempts and economic warfare.
The U.S. has also charged senior Venezuelan officials, including Maduro, with narcoterrorism offenses, offering multimillion-dollar rewards for information leading to their arrest—charges the Venezuelan government has consistently rejected as politically motivated.
While limited diplomatic engagement has occurred intermittently, particularly around oil licenses and prisoner exchanges, relations have remained largely hostile. Analysts say the dispute reflects broader geopolitical struggles over influence in Latin America, energy resources, and competing models of governance.
The latest statements by former U.S. President Donald Trump signal a potential escalation in a long-running confrontation that has shaped regional politics and Venezuela’s prolonged economic and humanitarian crisis.