A major military operation by the United States has led to the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, following months of covert intelligence gathering and preparation authorized by US President Donald Trump. The surprise overnight raid in Caracas, which included airstrikes that reportedly blacked out the city, resulted in the pair being flown to New York City to face charges including narco-terrorism, cocaine trafficking, and weapons offenses.

President Trump confirmed the large-scale strike, stating that the operation was conducted in conjunction with US law enforcement agencies. He later described the mission, known as Absolute Resolve, as one of the most stunning, effective, and powerful displays of the American military, reporting no US fatalities, though an unspecified number of Venezuelan security forces were killed and some US personnel sustained non-life-threatening injuries. The raid saw highly trained Delta Force troops descend on Maduro's compound, forcing entry and subduing the couple as Trump monitored the operation via a live feed.

Following the capture, Trump announced that the United States would assume temporary administrative control of Venezuela, stating that Washington would "run the country until such time as we can do a safe, proper and judicious transition." He also revealed plans to allow American oil companies to enter Venezuela to tap its massive crude reserves, despite existing US oil sanctions that remain in effect. Trump reiterated accusations that Caracas uses oil money to finance "drug terrorism, human trafficking, murder and kidnapping," and claimed the operation had "knocked out 97 per cent of the drugs coming by sea," allegedly originating from Venezuela. The US has long accused Maduro's government of corruption and drug trafficking.

In response to Maduro's detention, Venezuela's Supreme Court appointed Vice President Delcy Rodríguez as acting president to ensure continuity of governance and protect national interests. Rodríguez, initially condemning the operation as a "complete brutal aggression" and asserting Maduro remained the only president, was sworn in after contacting US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, with Trump suggesting she was "essentially willing to do what we think is necessary to make Venezuela great again." Venezuela's Defence Minister, Vladimir Padrino Lopez, condemned the "invading" US forces for hitting residential areas with missiles and rockets, accusing them of desecrating Venezuelan soil and leading to injured and dead civilians, while announcing a "massive deployment of all land, air, naval, riverine and missile capabilities" for comprehensive defense.

The international community's response has been sharply divided. The United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, expressed deep alarm, stating that the strikes could "constitute a dangerous precedent" and that "the rules of international law have not been respected." Russia and China condemned the action as a grave violation of international law and sovereignty, with China describing it as a "hegemonic act" that threatens regional peace. Brazil, Iran, Colombia, and Cuba also expressed outrage and condemned the US military intervention. South Africa condemned the "unlawful unilateral military action," calling for an emergency UN Security Council session to address the situation, emphasizing that it breaches international law and the UN Charter.

Conversely, Germany and Italy stated they were monitoring the situation closely, while Spain offered to mediate for a democratic, negotiated, and peaceful solution. British Cabinet minister Kemi Badenoch stated the UK was closely monitoring developments, describing the situation as "fast-moving and extremely serious," while emphasizing the need to understand facts and not rush to judgment. UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer clarified that Britain was not involved in the US military action and underscored the importance of respecting international law.

The US operation has drawn strong criticism from legal experts. Nigerian human rights lawyer Femi Falana called on the United States Congress to sanction President Trump for an "illegal invasion," describing the military action as a serious violation of international law and the UN Charter. Falana condemned the bombing of Caracas, the alleged killing of unarmed civilians, and the abduction of a sitting president, terming it "reckless gangsterism" and an attempt to turn Venezuela into "a new colony of the United States." Brian Finucane, a former State Department lawyer, also stated that the operation constituted an "unlawful use of force against another state under international law."