Trump says the US launched a major strike in Venezuela, captured President Maduro and his wife
The US has struck Venezuela and captured its President Nicolas Maduro, who has been taken out of the country, President Donald Trump said on Saturday.
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Caracas was thrown into chaos early Saturday as a series of explosions shook the city, sending people running into the streets while smoke rose from military sites. The Venezuelan government said at least seven blasts hit the capital around 2 a.m., and low-flying aircraft were seen over several neighborhoods, causing power outages in parts of the city.
Tensions rose further when former US President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social that the United States had carried out a large-scale strike in Venezuela and captured President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, taking them out of the country. “The United States of America has successfully carried out a large-scale strike against Venezuela and its leader,” Trump wrote, promising more details at a Mar-a-Lago press briefing later Saturday.
Washington called the operation a major blow to what it describes as Maduro’s drug cartel, while Caracas accused the US of hitting both civilian and military targets. Smoke was seen rising from a military hangar, and other installations were left without power. Residents said the explosions were frightening. “The whole ground shook. This is horrible. We heard explosions and planes in the distance,” said Carmen Hidalgo, a 21-year-old office worker, according to Tribune.
The US has been increasing pressure on Venezuela for weeks, sending a naval task force to the Caribbean, seizing oil tankers, and striking ships accused of drug smuggling. Trump had earlier warned of a possible ground operation, making Saturday’s strike potentially the first direct US attack on Venezuelan soil since Panama in 1989.
The Maduro government has not confirmed whether the president was captured but has repeatedly condemned US actions, calling them attempts to take control of Venezuela’s oil. State television continued normal programming, broadcasting music and art despite the explosions.
As Caracas recovers from the morning strikes, uncertainty is growing in the region. International observers are watching closely, with questions about civilian safety, the risk of escalation, and the wider impact of a direct US military move in Latin America.
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