Credit: Getty images, AP
The United States launched pre-dawn airstrikes on Venezuela early Saturday, triggering explosions across Caracas and setting the stage for the capture of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, a dramatic escalation that was confirmed hours later by US President Donald Trump. Venezuelan authorities declared a state of emergency as panic spread across the capital following the attacks, which killed at least 40 people.
How the operation unfolded:
US strikes rock Caracas
According to AFP, at least seven loud explosions were heard across Caracas around 2.00 am local time (0600 GMT), with the first blast occurring shortly before 1.50 am. Air sirens, low-flying aircraft and widespread power outages added to the chaos as residents rushed into the streets.“One was so strong, my window was shaking after it,” CNN correspondent Osmary Hernández said. Reuters reported that smoke was seen rising from southern Caracas near a major military base, while witnesses described aircraft flying overhead. Videos of the blasts quickly surfaced on social media.Trump later confirmed the military action, saying the United States had ordered strikes on targets inside Venezuela, including military facilities.
Maduro captured after overnight operation
According to US officials cited by CBS News, Maduro was taken into custody by members of Delta Force, the US military’s elite special mission unit, during a night-time operation in Caracas.CBS reports suggested the operation may also have involved the elite army helicopter unit Night Stalkers, whose pilots participated in the 2011 raid that killed al-Qaida chief Osama bin Laden. Speaking on Saturday afternoon, US President Donald Trump and senior military officials provided further details of how Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were tracked to a “very highly guarded … fortress” during what Trump called Operation Absolute Resolve. “They got taken out in a matter of seconds,” Trump said, claiming Maduro had tried to flee into a safe room. “He was trying to get into it, but he got bum rushed so fast that he didn’t get into that.” He added that while some US forces had been hit, none were killed, and troops had used a blowtorch to cut through steel doors. Gen Dan Caine, chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said the special forces team reached Maduro’s residence at around 2 am, engaging in “multiple self-defence engagements” during their escape from Venezuelan territory, according to US officials.Confirming the action, US President Donald Trump said the United States had carried out a “large-scale strike against Venezuela and its leader”. In a post on Truth Social, Trump wrote: “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.”He added that the operation was conducted “in conjunction with US Law Enforcement” and said further details would be shared at a press conference at Mar-a-Lago.As reports of Maduro’s capture spread, Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez said the whereabouts of the president and his wife were unknown, adding that authorities were demanding “proof of life”, according to the Associated Press.
From Caracas to US custody
US authorities later detailed Maduro’s transfer out of Venezuela. Officials said he was seized in Caracas and flown by US helicopter in the early hours of Saturday. He was first taken to the USS Iwo Jima at an undisclosed location in the Caribbean Sea, before being transferred to the US naval base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.From there, Maduro was flown to Stewart Air Force Base in New York State’s Orange County and then taken by helicopter into New York City. In total, he travelled about 2,100 miles (3,300 kilometres) from Venezuela to the United States.Video footage released later on Saturday showed Maduro arriving handcuffed and escorted by US officials. Trump also shared an image showing the Venezuelan leader handcuffed and blindfolded aboard the USS Iwo Jima, captioned: “Nicolas Maduro on board the USS Iwo Jima.”According to the BBC, a motorcade believed to be carrying Maduro was seen leaving the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) headquarters in Manhattan before heading to a heliport. Three helicopters were later seen flying down the Hudson River past the Statue of Liberty before landing. US officials said Maduro and Flores were taken to the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn.
Charges filed in New York
US Attorney General Pam Bondi confirmed that Maduro and Flores have been indicted in the Southern District of New York. The charges include conspiracy to commit narco-terrorism, conspiracy to import cocaine into the United States, possession of machine guns and destructive devices, and conspiracy to possess such weapons against the US.US media reports said the booking process has begun, including fingerprinting, biometric data collection, mugshots and medical examinations. The couple are expected to be formally produced in court, possibly as early as Monday.Speaking later on Fox and Friends Weekend, Trump said the operation lasted less than 30 minutes and had been rehearsed in advance, claiming Maduro had been heavily guarded inside a fortified palace. The White House’s Rapid Response account later posted a video appearing to show a “perp walk” of the ousted Venezuelan leader at the DEA office in Manhattan.Governments across the world reacted with alarm and condemnation after the US operation in Venezuela, with many warning of regional instability and violations of international law. The European Union called for restraint and strict adherence to the UN Charter, with its top diplomat Kaja Kallas stressing that international law must be respected even as the bloc said it does not recognise Nicolás Maduro’s legitimacy. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said all countries must uphold international law and underlined that the UK was not involved in the action. Russia described the incident as an abduction and an “act of armed aggression”, demanding immediate clarification, while Spain urged de-escalation and offered to help mediate a democratic and peaceful solution. In Latin America, Colombia called the move an assault on regional sovereignty and sought an urgent UN Security Council meeting, while Mexico warned the strikes seriously jeopardised regional stability. Iran and Cuba strongly condemned what they called a violation of Venezuela’s sovereignty, with Havana denouncing “state terrorism” against the Venezuelan people. China, meanwhile, urged Washington to immediately release Maduro and his wife, ensure their safety, and resolve the crisis through dialogue and negotiation, saying their removal violated international law and established norms Go to Source
