US hits Venezuela in night strikes as Trump claims Prez Maduro’s capture
At least seven explosions were reported in Caracas early on the third day of 2026, sending residents rushing into the streets.
Multiple explosions rocked Caracas as low-flying aircraft swept across the Venezuelan capital.
Caracas, Jan 3: The United States carried out a “large-scale strike” on Venezuela early Saturday, with President Donald Trump announcing that Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro had been captured and flown out of the country after months of escalating pressure by Washington. The extraordinary nighttime operation was revealed by Trump on social media hours after the attack.
Multiple explosions rocked Caracas as low-flying aircraft swept across the Venezuelan capital. Maduro’s government immediately accused the United States of targeting civilian and military installations, calling it an “imperialist attack” and urging citizens to take to the streets.
It was not immediately clear who was running the country, and Maduro’s whereabouts remained unknown.
“We demand proof of life,” Venezuela’s Vice President Delcy Rodriguez said on state television.
Trump announced the developments on Truth Social shortly after 4:30 am ET.
“Maduro has been, along with his wife, captured and flown out of the Country,” Trump wrote. “This operation was done in conjunction with US Law Enforcement. Details to follow.”
He also announced that a news conference would be held later on Saturday morning.
Rodriguez later appeared again on state TV, saying the government had no information on the whereabouts of the president or First Lady Cilia Flores.
“We do not know the whereabouts of President Nicolas Maduro and First Lady Cilia Flores,” she said. “We demand proof of life.”
At least seven explosions were reported in Caracas early on the third day of 2026, sending residents rushing into the streets, while others took to social media to report hearing and seeing blasts. It was not immediately clear whether there were casualties. The apparent attack lasted less than 30 minutes, though it remained uncertain whether further military action would follow. Trump said the strikes were carried out “successfully.”
Ahead of the explosions, the US Federal Aviation Administration issued a ban on American commercial flights in Venezuelan airspace due to “ongoing military activity.”
The strike came amid intensified pressure by the Trump administration on Maduro, who has been charged with narco-terrorism in the United States. Last week, the CIA carried out a drone strike on a docking area believed to have been used by Venezuelan drug cartels — the first known direct US operation on Venezuelan soil since strikes began in September.
Trump has for months warned that military action against targets inside Venezuela was possible, following repeated attacks on vessels accused of carrying drugs. Maduro has denounced US military operations as a thinly veiled attempt to remove him from power.
PTI