• Regime Change by Force? U.S. Bombs Venezuela as Maduro Allegedly Captured in Shock Overnight Operation
• Sovereignty Shattered: America Strikes Venezuela, Claims Capture of Sitting President Nicolás Maduro
• War in Latin America? U.S. Military Storms Venezuela, Maduro and Wife Reportedly Taken Out of Country
In the early hours of January 3, 2026, a dramatic and unprecedented escalation occurred in U.S.–Venezuela relations as the United States launched a large-scale military strike inside Venezuelan territory, including the capital, Caracas. Explosions rocked key military and strategic sites, as reported by multiple international news outlets, and President Donald Trump announced that Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, had been captured and removed from the country.
Around 02:00 a.m. local time, explosions were heard in Caracas and other parts of northern Venezuela, including La Carlota airbase and Fort Tiuna, as well as in the states of Miranda, La Guaira, and Aragua. Residents reported low-flying aircraft, smoke rising over military installations, and significant disruption to electricity in parts of the capital. Venezuela’s government described the strikes as a blatant violation of its sovereignty, asserting that both civilian and military targets were hit and calling for mobilization against what it labeled “imperialist aggression.”
President Trump took to his social media platform to declare that the United States had “successfully carried out a large-scale strike” and that Maduro and his wife were captured and flown out of Venezuela. He stated that the operation was conducted “in conjunction with U.S. Law Enforcement” and promised further details at a scheduled press conference later in the morning. U.S. officials have suggested that elite special forces, including the U.S. Army’s Delta Force, were involved in the capture mission, though the exact location to which Maduro and Flores were taken has not been disclosed.
The Venezuelan government, led in Maduro’s absence by Vice President Delcy Rodríguez, demanded immediate proof of life and challenged the U.S. account of events, maintaining that Caracas lacked verifiable information on the whereabouts of its leaders. Venezuelan officials denounced the strikes as illegal and a threat to international peace and stability, while also accusing the U.S. of seeking control over Venezuela’s vast natural resources.
The U.S. administration has framed the operation against Maduro as part of a months-long campaign of pressure that included sanctions, maritime interdictions, and strikes on vessels allegedly linked to drug trafficking networks. U.S. authorities have for some time accused Maduro’s government of involvement in narcoterrorism and other criminal activities, and the president had been indicted in U.S. courts.
International reaction to the strike has been sharply divided. Nations such as Russia, Iran, and Cuba condemned the U.S. action as an unlawful military aggression and a violation of Venezuela’s sovereignty. Colombia’s president called for emergency measures in response to potential humanitarian and refugee impacts. Some U.S. allies and regional leaders expressed concern about the legality of the attack and the broader implications for regional stability.
At this stage, independent verification of Maduro’s capture and current status remains limited, and the situation on the ground continues to evolve rapidly. The operation represents one of the most significant direct U.S. military engagements in Latin America in decades, raising profound questions about international law, regional security, and the future of Venezuelan governance.
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