The Dramatic Capture of Venezuela’s Leader
President Donald Trump claimed on Saturday that US forces had captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro following a series of bombings in the capital, Caracas, and other cities. This event marked a dramatic climax to a prolonged conflict between Trump and his long-standing adversary, Maduro.
Around 2:00 am (0600 GMT), Caracas experienced a series of explosions accompanied by the sound of attack helicopters. According to AFP journalists, these strikes targeted a major military base and an airbase, among other locations, and continued for nearly an hour.
Trump announced on Truth Social, approximately two hours after the attacks began, that the United States had successfully carried out a large-scale strike against Venezuela and its leader. He stated that Maduro and his wife had been captured and flown out of the country. Attorney General Pamela Bondi also tweeted that Maduro and his wife would face “the full wrath of American justice on American soil in American courts” over drug and terrorism charges.
Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau praised the situation on X, calling it “a new dawn for Venezuela” and stating that “a tyrant is gone.” However, the Venezuelan government accused the United States of an “extremely serious military aggression” and called for an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council.
Vice President Delcy Rodriguez expressed uncertainty about the whereabouts of Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, during a phone call with Venezuelan TV. She demanded proof of life for the 12-year leader, whose re-election in 2024 was widely viewed as fraudulent by the international community.
Russia, a key ally of Venezuela, condemned the “armed aggression” and called for immediate clarity regarding Maduro’s fate. US Senator Mike Lee quoted Secretary of State Marco Rubio in a call, stating that Maduro would “stand trial” in the United States, where he is wanted on charges of drug trafficking.
Trump planned to hold a news conference at 11:00 am (1600 GMT) at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida. Meanwhile, Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, had not yet commented on the events. In a previous post on X on December 31, Machado expressed confidence that 2026 would bring “consolidation of our nation’s liberty.”
A ‘Brilliant’ Operation
Venezuelans had been anticipating potential attacks on their territory due to repeated threats from Trump against Maduro’s administration. Trump described the operation as “brilliant,” citing extensive planning and the involvement of “great, great troops and great people” in a brief phone interview with The New York Times.
Fort Tiuna, Venezuela’s largest military complex located in the south of Caracas, and Carlota airbase in the north were among the targets of the strikes. La Guaira, north of the capital, where Caracas’ airport and port are situated, was also struck.
Maria Eugenia Escobar, a 58-year-old resident of La Guaira, shared her experience with AFP, saying that the explosions felt like they lifted her out of bed. She immediately thought, “God, the day has come,” and cried.
The government declared a state of emergency, but Maduro, who recently offered to cooperate with the United States, was nowhere to be seen. The defense ministry accused the United States of targeting residential areas and announced a “massive deployment” of its military resources.
Iran, Cuba, and Colombia’s leftist leader Gustavo Petro condemned the attacks, while the EU’s top diplomat urged restraint in a call with Rubio. Spain offered to mediate in the crisis in an attempt to broker a peaceful solution.
Petro deployed troops to the border with Venezuela. No casualty figures were immediately available.
Residents of Caracas rushed to their windows and terraces to witness the events as the bombings began. Others sought shelter in safe, windowless spaces, fearing broken glass. Some social media users celebrated Trump’s claims of deposing the unpopular Maduro, while others rejected what they saw as Trump’s war-mongering.
“They’re Bombing”
Francis Pena, a 29-year-old communications professional living in eastern Caracas, shared his experience with AFP. He was sleeping when his girlfriend told him, “they’re bombing.” Pena said he could not see the explosions but heard the planes. He and his girlfriend started preparing a bag with essential items such as passport, cards, cash, candles, a change of clothes, and canned food.
Trump deployed an aircraft carrier and several warships to the Caribbean late last year as part of an anti-drug smuggling campaign. However, in recent weeks, he has made no secret of his desire to unseat Maduro from power. On Monday, Trump suggested it would be “smart” for the Venezuelan leader to step down and announced that the US had hit and destroyed a docking area for alleged Venezuelan drug boats.
The Trump administration has also accused Maduro of leading a drug cartel. Venezuela dismissed these claims, asserting that Washington seeks to overthrow him because of Venezuela’s vast oil reserves. As part of an escalating pressure campaign, Washington informally closed Venezuela’s airspace, imposed more sanctions, and ordered the seizure of tankers loaded with Venezuelan oil.
US forces have conducted numerous strikes on boats in both the Caribbean Sea and the eastern Pacific Ocean since September, targeting what Washington claims are drug smugglers. These strikes have resulted in the deaths of at least 107 people, according to the US military.
