03/01/2026
Breaking: US Captures Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro On January 3, 2026, US forces conducted a large-scale military strike on Caracas and other sites in Venezuela, resulting in the capture of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. President Donald Trump announced the operation on Truth Social, stating they were flown out of the country aboard the USS Iwo Jima and are en route to New York to face federal charges, including narco-terrorism conspiracy, drug trafficking, and weapons-related offenses (based on a 2020 indictment updated recently).The raid, involving airstrikes and special forces (reportedly Delta Force), followed months of escalating US pressure, including strikes on alleged drug vessels and a naval buildup in the region. Trump described it as enforcing justice against a "narco-regime" and indicated the US would temporarily "run" Venezuela to facilitate a transition, with strong involvement in its oil industry. International Reactions (Mixed and Divided):Condemnation: Russia, Iran, China, France, and many Latin American nations (e.g., Brazil, Mexico, Colombia) have denounced the action as a violation of sovereignty and international law, specifically UN Charter Article 2(4) prohibiting the use of force against territorial integrity. The UN Secretary-General called it a "dangerous precedent."
Support: Some US allies and figures like Argentina's President Javier Milei, Ecuador's President Daniel Noboa, and Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado (2025 Nobel Peace Prize winner) have praised it as delivering justice and opening the door to democracy. Celebrations reported among Venezuelan expatriates in Florida.
Venezuelan officials, including Vice President Delcy Rodríguez, demanded proof of life and mobilized forces, declaring a state of emergency.
The situation remains fluid, with debates over legality, regional stability, and Venezuela's future intensifying globally. No further US military action is anticipated immediately, per officials.
