President Donald Trump said that United States forces had successfully carried out a sweeping operation against Venezuela that resulted in the capture of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, following hours of explosions and reports of aircraft moving at low altitude over Caracas. The strike represents one of the most significant escalations in relations between the two countries in years.

In a statement released on social media, Mr Trump said,

“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. This operation was done in conjunction with U.S. Law Enforcement.”

He added that a news conference would follow to provide more detail on the operation.

Witnesses in Caracas reported hearing a series of explosions shortly before dawn, with power outages affecting several neighbourhoods as the strikes unfolded. Videos shared online showed flashes in the sky and residents attempting to understand the scale of the bombardment. Local authorities were slow to comment, contributing to widespread confusion in the early hours.

Venezuelan officials later condemned the operation, describing it as an unlawful attack on national sovereignty. Vice President Delcy Rodríguez said the government had lost all communication with both Mr Maduro and Ms Flores, and demanded proof of life for the pair. She said the country was entering a national emergency and called on Venezuelans to mobilise in response to what she described as an assault orchestrated by foreign powers.

The United States has long accused Mr Maduro of authoritarianism and of overseeing Venezuela’s economic collapse. Although tensions have simmered for years, the decision to launch a coordinated military strike and remove a sitting head of state from his own territory is unprecedented in recent Latin American history. Analysts have warned that the move could trigger unpredictable consequences across the region.

A senior United States official, speaking anonymously, described the mission as a meticulously arranged plan involving military, intelligence and law enforcement teams. The official referred to it as a “brilliant operation”, saying that American personnel had executed each stage with precision and without suffering casualties. However, no additional information was provided about where Mr Maduro and his wife were taken.

International reaction has been swift, with governments across South America expressing alarm at what some have labelled an unacceptable breach of territorial integrity. Several European nations have called for immediate diplomatic engagement to prevent further escalation. Others have urged restraint, warning that the removal of Mr Maduro could create a dangerous power vacuum inside Venezuela.

Venezuelan military figures have issued mixed statements, with some urging calm and others calling for mobilisation. Reports of troop movements around Caracas and other major cities added to concerns that internal conflict could erupt in the aftermath of the strike. The country’s political opposition has remained largely silent, wary of being perceived as supporting foreign intervention.

As uncertainty deepens, the focus now shifts to what the United States intends to do next, and whether it will continue direct involvement in Venezuelan affairs. The capture of Mr Maduro and Ms Flores raises complex legal questions about jurisdiction and international law, while the long-term implications for regional stability remain unknown.

The situation continues to develop rapidly, with governments and analysts around the world attempting to assess the potential fallout of a United States operation that has dramatically altered Venezuela’s political landscape overnight.