US launches large-scale strike on Venezuela
US launches large-scale strike on Venezuela after President Donald Trump announced that American forces carried out a major military operation targeting the country and captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro along with his wife, Cilia Flores, marking an unprecedented escalation in US-Venezuela relations.
In a statement shared on Truth Social, President Trump said the United States had successfully executed a “large-scale strike” against Venezuela and confirmed that President Maduro and his wife were captured and flown out of the country. He stated that the operation was conducted in coordination with US law enforcement agencies and that further details would be shared during a press conference scheduled at his Florida residence, Mar-a-Lago.
Explosions were reported across Caracas as footage and images circulating on social media showed large plumes of smoke rising over the Venezuelan capital. Eyewitnesses described scenes of chaos and fear, with residents reporting helicopter activity overhead and powerful blasts shaking parts of the city. One witness told international media that their “heart was pumping and legs were shaking” as the explosions rocked nearby neighborhoods.
US officials, speaking to American media outlets, said that the operation to capture President Maduro was carried out by the US Army’s elite Delta Force, marking what analysts describe as the most dramatic US military intervention in Latin America since the Cold War era. If confirmed, it would be the first time a sitting foreign head of state has been extracted from their country by US special forces without a formal declaration of war.
Venezuela’s government swiftly declared a nationwide state of emergency, rejecting and denouncing what it called “military aggression” by the United States. Vice President Delcy Rodríguez said the government had no information on the whereabouts of President Maduro or the First Lady and demanded “immediate proof of life” for both. Venezuelan authorities also claimed that some of the strikes may have hit civilian areas, though casualty figures and damage assessments remain unclear.
Defence Minister Vladimir Padrino López announced the immediate deployment of all armed forces across the country, calling the operation the “worst aggression” Venezuela has ever faced. He said the military would resist the presence of foreign troops and accused Washington of attempting to destabilize the country under the pretext of security operations.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, according to Republican Senator Mike Lee, said that President Maduro would stand trial on criminal charges in the United States and indicated that Washington does not anticipate further military action against Venezuela now that Maduro is reportedly in US custody. Senator Lee added that the strikes were deployed to protect personnel involved in executing the arrest warrant.
The United States has long accused President Maduro of leading an international narcotics trafficking network, allegations that the Venezuelan leader has consistently denied. Washington has also refused to recognize Maduro as Venezuela’s legitimate president following the disputed 2024 elections, which were widely criticized by Western governments as neither free nor fair.
Analysts note that tensions between Washington and Caracas had been escalating for weeks, with increased US military deployments across the Caribbean and Latin America, seizures of sanctioned oil tankers, and reported strikes on alleged drug-smuggling routes. Correspondents describe the current operation as the most significant US military buildup in the region since the Cold War.
What remains uncertain is what comes next for Venezuela if President Maduro has indeed been removed from power. While some opposition figures may see this as an opportunity for political transition, analysts warn that the loyalty of Venezuela’s military and paramilitary groups, combined with widespread political polarization, could lead to further instability.
US launches large-scale strike on Venezuela at a moment of extreme regional tension, with the international community closely watching developments as Washington and Caracas issue sharply conflicting narratives and critical questions remain unanswered about casualties, governance, and the future leadership of the oil-rich South American nation.
