CARACAS, Venezuela — In a stunning military escalation that has reshaped the geopolitical landscape of the Western Hemisphere overnight, United States special operations forces launched a large-scale strike on Venezuela in the early hours of Saturday, January 3, 2026. President Donald Trump announced via social media that the operation successfully resulted in the capture of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, who have since been flown out of the country.
Massive explosion in northern Venezuela amid reports of American airstrikes against Caracas and the Maduro regime pic.twitter.com/CrmYJCTRX9
— Lunar Surfer (@TheLunarSurfer) January 3, 2026
Footage from Caracas has captured an explosion rocking the Cuartel de la Montana, the resting place of Hugo Chavez.
Chavez served as president of Venezuela between 1999 and his death in 2013. He threw out US oil companies.
How can you stoop so low as to bomb cemeteries? pic.twitter.com/q1pKED8tkh
— Alternative News (@AlternatNews) January 3, 2026
The Operation: “Southern Spear”
The assault began around 2:00 AM local time when residents of Caracas were jolted awake by at least seven major explosions and the roar of low-flying aircraft. Initial reports indicate that the U.S. Army’s Delta Force led the precision raid, targeting high-security installations including Fuerte Tiuna, Venezuela’s largest military complex, and the La Carlota airbase.
The Venezuelan government, led in Maduro’s absence by Vice President Delcy Rodríguez and Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López, immediately declared a “state of external commotion.” State television broadcasted defiant messages calling the strikes “imperialist aggression,” while confirming that multiple military and civilian sites in the states of Miranda, Aragua, and La Guaira had been hit. Despite the domestic mobilization, U.S. officials claim the “brilliant operation” was swift, lasting less than 30 minutes.
Trump’s Announcement and 11:00 AM Briefing
President Trump broke the news shortly after 4:30 AM ET on Truth Social. “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,” the President wrote. He added that the mission was conducted in conjunction with U.S. law enforcement, likely referring to the outstanding $50 million bounty and narco-terrorism indictments against Maduro.
The President has scheduled a formal news conference for 11:00 AM EST at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida. He is expected to provide further details on the current location of Maduro, the status of Venezuelan sovereignty, and the future of the U.S. military presence in the Caribbean.
International Fallout
The global reaction has been swift and polarized. Colombian President Gustavo Petro called for an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council, describing the event as an “assault on sovereignty.” Conversely, leaders within the Venezuelan opposition, long-supported by Washington, have characterized the move as a necessary step toward restoring democracy.
This intervention marks the most direct U.S. military action in Latin America since the 1989 invasion of Panama. As of Saturday morning, the FAA has banned all U.S. flights over Venezuelan airspace, citing “safety-of-flight risks associated with ongoing military activity.”
Mainstream Sources & Live Coverage
- AP News: US strikes Venezuela and says its leader, Maduro, has been captured
- CBS News: U.S. launches military strikes on Venezuela; Trump says Maduro captured
- The Guardian: Trump claims US has captured Venezuela’s dictator and wife
- Al Jazeera: Live: Trump claims Venezuela’s Maduro ‘captured’ after attacks
- The Jerusalem Post: Trump says Maduro captured after US strikes Venezuela
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