US attacks Venezuela, Maduro ‘captured’ as Caracas declares emergency
The United States has launched attacks on Venezuela and detained President Nicolás Maduro in what US President Donald Trump described as a “large-scale strike,” triggering a national emergency and sharply escalating tensions between Washington and Caracas.
In a post on Truth Social early Saturday, Trump claimed that Maduro and his wife had been “captured and flown out of the country” following a coordinated operation carried out “in conjunction with US law enforcement.” The claim could not be independently verified, and there has been no official confirmation from Venezuelan authorities regarding Maduro’s whereabouts.
Venezuela’s government, however, confirmed that multiple civilian and military installations were hit overnight, accusing the United States of “military aggression” against its territory and population. In a statement, Caracas said the attacks struck the capital, Caracas, and the surrounding states of Miranda, Aragua and La Guaira.
Residents in Caracas reported at least seven explosions around 2am local time, accompanied by the sound of low-flying aircraft. Video footage circulating online showed fireballs and thick smoke rising from areas near Fort Tiuna, the country’s main military base.
Following the attacks, President Maduro, before his reported detention, ordered the activation of national defence plans in line with the constitution and declared a nationwide state of emergency. The government accused Washington of attempting to impose regime change and seize Venezuela’s vast oil and mineral resources, warning that such efforts would fail.
“The aggression threatens international peace and stability, particularly in Latin America and the Caribbean,” the statement said, adding that Venezuela reserves the right to self-defence under Article 51 of the UN Charter.
The United States has not issued a formal statement on the alleged strikes. However, the Federal Aviation Administration banned US commercial flights from Venezuelan airspace, citing ongoing military activity. The US embassy in Bogota urged American citizens not to travel to Venezuela and advised those already there to leave as soon as conditions allow.
Venezuela’s opposition said it had no official comment on the explosions or the reported US operation. Opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, a long-time critic of Maduro, has previously praised recent US actions against Venezuela’s oil shipments, but her camp remained silent as events unfolded.
Regional concern mounted quickly. Colombian President Gustavo Petro called for de-escalation, warning that unilateral military action could endanger civilians and destabilise the region. Analysts described the situation inside Venezuela as a period of “tense calm,” with heightened security, reports of a no-fly zone and the deployment of paramilitary forces.
As Washington and Caracas trade accusations and claims, uncertainty surrounds the fate of Venezuela’s leadership and the next phase of a crisis that now threatens to redraw the political and security landscape of the region.
Source: Al Jazeera, CNN