Khamenei.ir, CC BY 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
In a development that marks a dramatic escalation in U.S.–Venezuela tensions, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were reportedly captured by U.S. forces early on Saturday, January 3, 2026, following a large-scale military operation that included airstrikes across Venezuela’s capital, Caracas.
U.S. President Donald Trump announced the operation on his social media platform, saying the leaders were “captured and flown out of the country” as part of actions that will see them face drug trafficking and terrorism charges in American courts.
According to official statements from Washington, the seizure was conducted in coordination between U.S. military special operations — reportedly including the Army’s elite Delta Force — and federal law enforcement agencies.
Explosions were reported before dawn in several Venezuelan regions. Some cities, including Caracas, experienced significant military activity as part of the operation.
Details remain limited, and the exact location to which Maduro and Flores have been transported has not been disclosed.
The arrests come amid a long-running campaign by U.S. authorities against Maduro. The Venezuelan leader has been the subject of indictments since 2020 in the Southern District of New York, where he was charged with narco-terrorism and conspiracy to traffic cocaine into the United States — allegations Maduro has repeatedly denied.
The U.S. government has designated the criminal network alleged to operate within the Venezuelan state, often referred to as the Cartel of the Suns, as a terrorist organisation, further justifying Washington’s actions.
Venezuelan officials have condemned the strikes, describing them as military aggression and violations of sovereignty.
Caracas declared a state of emergency, with calls for citizens to mobilise in response to what the government characterised as an imperialist assault.
Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez demanded proof of life for the captured leaders. National defence officials also announced deployments of forces across the country in a bid to stabilise the situation.
International reactions have been mixed. Some regional leaders sharply criticised the U.S. action, while others expressed support for the removal of Maduro, whom Washington and allied governments have long accused of corruption, human rights abuses, and undermining democratic processes.
This operation — described by some observers as the most direct U.S. military intervention in Latin America since the 1989 invasion of Panama — significantly alters the geopolitical landscape in the Western Hemisphere.
The unfolding situation is likely to have far-reaching consequences for Venezuelan governance, regional stability, and U.S. foreign policy.
Authorities in Washington have indicated that further details, including formal charges and legal proceedings, will be outlined at an upcoming press briefing scheduled by President Trump.
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