In a dramatic escalation of tensions, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has been captured and flown to the United States, where he now faces indictment on serious drugs and weapons charges. The operation followed a series of US military strikes that rocked the Venezuelan capital of Caracas in the early hours of Saturday morning.
Operation and Arrest: A Capital Under Fire
Former US President Donald Trump released a statement confirming the action, declaring, 'The United States of America has successfully carried out a large scale strike against Venezuela and its leader.' He stated the operation was conducted alongside US law enforcement. Republican Senator Mike Lee later confirmed Maduro's arrest, adding the Venezuelan leader would stand trial in the US on criminal charges.
The assault on Caracas began around 1:50 AM local time. Witnesses reported multiple explosions, low-flying aircraft, and at least one large column of smoke rising over the city. One target was Fort Tiona, which houses the Venezuelan ministry of defence. 'The whole ground shook. This is horrible. We heard explosions and planes in the distance,' said 21-year-old office worker Carmen Hidalgo, her voice trembling as she described the scene.
Venezuela's Response and Wider Escalation
The Venezuelan government vehemently condemned the attack, calling it an 'imperialist' act of aggression. In a defiant statement, it urged supporters to take to the streets and declared 'a state of external disturbance.' President Maduro reportedly ordered all national defence plans to be implemented. Colombia's President Gustavo Petro took to social media to alert the world, posting, 'At this moment they are bombing Caracas.'
This major land strike follows a pattern of escalating US military action. Since September 2025, the US has conducted over 35 strikes on suspected drug vessels in international waters. Trump had repeatedly signalled a shift to land-based targets, calling them 'much easier.' A previous CIA-led drone strike on a Venezuelan port facility on Christmas Eve marked a significant precursor to this latest operation.
Charges and International Fallout
Nicolás Maduro and his wife have been formally indicted in the United States on charges including narco-terrorism. The Trump administration has long accused his regime of facilitating drug trafficking to the US. Senator Mike Lee stated the recent military strikes were 'deployed to protect and defend those executing the arrest warrant.'
The Pentagon and US Southern Command declined to comment on the operation. Trump announced he would hold a press conference at Mar-a-Lago to release further details. This unprecedented move to physically capture a sitting head of state is set to cause major diplomatic shockwaves and raises profound questions about the future of US-Venezuela relations and international law.
