U.S. President Donald Trump announced via Truth Social that the United States successfully carried out a large-scale strike against Venezuela at the wee hours of 3 January 2026. He also noted that Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were captured and flown out of the country.
Reports indicate that the operation was carried out by Delta Force. Note that this is the same elite unit involved in the 2019 raid against ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.
The capture of Maduro allegedly took place during the pre-dawn U.S. military assault. However, while Trump claims Maduro is in U.S. custody, Venezuelan Vice-President Delcy Rodríguez has confirmed that Maduro and Flores are missing and has demanded proof of life.
Residents of Caracas reported at least 7 massive explosions at 2 a.m. Venezuelan time. Witnesses described the ground shaking and the sound of low-flying aircraft and missiles.
Strikes were reported at key military installations. These included Fuerte Tiuna, the largest military complex and primary residence of Maduro, La Carlota, a critical military airfield at the center of the city, and several regional strikes in the states of Miranda, La Guaira, and Aragua.
The assaults caused widespread power outages in parts of the capital. Many residents fled into the streets in panic as smoke rose from military sites and other targeted areas.
Before reports of his capture surfaced, the Venezuelan government under Maduro denounced the “imperialist aggression” and “military attack” by the United States, claiming the goal was to seize the massive oil and mineral resources of Venezuela, while calling for a national uprising.
President Gustavo Petro of Colombia was one of the first to report the bombing. He described it as a missile attack and called for an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council.
The U.S. government under the second Trump administration has justified the escalation as part of its “Operation Southern Spear,” a campaign targeting “narco-terrorist” networks in the Americas. Maduro had previously been charged in the U.S. with narco-terrorism.
A five-month pressure campaign by the Trump administration, which began in August 2025, preceded this event. These included a massive military buildup off the Venezuelan coast.
European nations expressed great concern. Spain called for a peaceful de-escalation. Italy activated its crisis unit to monitor the safety of the 160,000 Italians living in Venezuela. Caribbean leaders held an emergency meeting to discuss the military action on their doorstep.
FURTHER READINGS AND REFERENCES
- Pager, T. 3 January 2026. “In a Phone Interview, Trump Celebrated the Capture of Maduro.” The New York Times. Available online
- Phillips, T. 3 January 2026. “Trump Claims US Has Captured Venezuelan Dictator and Wife.” The Guardian. Available online
Photo Credit: Kremlin.ru – President of the Russian Federation / 2019 / Adapted / CC BY-SA 4.0 International