Caracas, Jan 3 (UNI): US President Donald Trump claimed early Saturday that Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife had been captured and taken out of the country during a large-scale U.S. military operation, a statement that sent shockwaves across the region and intensified global attention.
Trump posted on TruthSocial, “The United States of America has successfully carried out a large-scale strike against Venezuela and its leader, President Nicolas Maduro, who has been, along with his wife, captured and flown out of the country. This operation was done in conjunction with U.S. Law Enforcement.”
“Details to follow. There will be a News Conference today at 11 A.M., at Mar-a-Lago. Thank you for your attention to this matter! President DONALD J. TRUMP,” the post said.
The announcement came amid reports of powerful explosions and low-flying aircraft across Caracas in the early hours, jolting residents awake and sparking panic throughout the capital.
Witnesses reported at least seven loud blasts, flashes of light in the sky, and thick plumes of smoke rising near key military installations. Power disruptions were also reported in some neighbourhoods, compounding the chaos.
The Venezuelan government strongly condemned the U.S. action as an act of foreign aggression, accusing Washington of attempting to destabilise the elected government.
In response, President Maduro declared a national state of emergency, mobilised defence forces, and urged citizens to remain calm while standing united against what he described as external intervention.
Security forces were quickly deployed in Caracas, with roads near sensitive locations sealed and investigations launched to assess the damage and determine the exact targets of the strikes. Authorities advised citizens to stay indoors and avoid spreading unverified information.
The incident marks a dramatic escalation in already strained relations between the United States and Venezuela, which has been tense over issues of political legitimacy, economic sanctions, and accusations related to narcotics trafficking.
Recent weeks had seen increased U.S. military and naval activity in the Caribbean region, raising fears of confrontation.
The crisis also drew international reactions.
In India, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) condemned the military action in a press statement issued by its Polit Bureau. The party said the strikes exposed the “real face” of the U.S. National Security Strategy 2025, announced in early December last year.
“For the last few weeks the U.S. has mobilised its military and naval forces around Venezuela in order to enforce regime change,” the statement said, highlighting concerns over unilateral intervention and global instability.
As Caracas slowly returned to cautious calm by morning, uncertainty remained high over Venezuela’s political future and the wider consequences of the overnight events, with the world closely monitoring developments in the coming days.
