United States President Donald Trump announced on Saturday, January 3, 2026, a "large-scale" U.S. military operation against Venezuela, claiming the successful capture and extraction of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. Posting on his Truth Social platform, Trump stated the operation was conducted "in conjunction with U.S. Law Enforcement" and promised a news conference at his Mar-a-Lago residence for further details. This extraordinary claim, made without immediate supporting evidence, followed months of escalating U.S. pressure on Maduro over accusations of drug-running and illegitimacy in power.

In the early hours of Saturday, explosions rocked Venezuela’s capital, Caracas, and other states including Miranda, Aragua, and La Guaira. Reports from various news outlets, including Al Jazeera, CNN, and Associated Press, detailed multiple blasts, plumes of thick smoke, fireballs, low-flying aircraft, and power outages across parts of the capital, particularly near key military installations like Fortuna and Fuerte Tiuna. Venezuelan Defence Minister Vladimir López accused the United States of "criminal military aggression," stating that missiles and rockets from combat helicopters struck urban areas. He condemned the action as a violation of international law and a bid for regime change to seize Venezuela's vast oil and mineral resources, while the government declared a national emergency and mobilized troops.

Adding a legal dimension to the military action, U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi announced the indictment of President Nicolas Maduro and Cilia Flores in the Southern District of New York. The charges include narco-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine importation conspiracy, possession of machineguns, and conspiracy to possess machineguns and destructive devices against the United States. Bondi asserted that the couple would soon "face the full wrath of American justice on American soil in American courts," and praised President Trump and the military for the "incredible and highly successful mission" to capture the alleged international narco-traffickers. A U.S. official told Reuters that Maduro was captured by elite special forces, and Republican U.S. Senator Mike Lee indicated that Secretary of State Marco Rubio anticipated Maduro would stand trial on criminal charges in the U.S.

The U.S. operation drew strong condemnation internationally. Russia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs vehemently denounced the "armed aggression" as unjustified, warning it risked further destabilizing the region. Russia called for an urgent diplomatic response, emphasizing the need to prevent escalation and seek solutions through dialogue, reaffirming its solidarity with the Venezuelan people and supporting calls for an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council. Iran also condemned the strikes as a "blatant violation of national sovereignty and territorial integrity," urging UN intervention. Venezuela's Vice President Delcy Rodriguez demanded that the Trump government provide immediate proof of life for Maduro and the First Lady.

The European Union, through its High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, stated it was closely monitoring the rapidly unfolding situation. While reiterating the EU's long-standing stance that it does not recognize President Nicolás Maduro as a legitimate leader and supports a peaceful political transition, Kallas stressed that "the principles of international law and the UN Charter must be respected" and called for restraint. The safety of EU citizens in Venezuela remains a top priority, she added.

Within the United States, the military action faced significant criticism from lawmakers. Congressman Jim McGovern condemned what he described as an "unjustified, illegal strike on Venezuela" launched without congressional authorization and against public opposition to another foreign war. Rep. Melanie Stansbury echoed these sentiments, insisting that President Trump lacks the constitutional authority to declare war or undertake large-scale military operations without Congress's approval, calling for immediate legislative intervention to "rein him in."

The U.S. had for months accused Maduro of leading a "narco-state" and rigging the 2024 election, which the opposition claimed to have won. Maduro, who succeeded Hugo Chavez in 2013, has consistently denied these allegations, asserting that Washington's true motive is to seize control of Venezuela's vast oil reserves. The U.S. action revives painful memories of past interventions in Latin America, notably the 1989 invasion of Panama to depose Manuel Noriega over similar allegations, and invokes historical precedents such as the Monroe Doctrine and "gunboat diplomacy."

The operation followed a significant U.S. military buildup in the region, including the positioning of the USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier, other warships, and advanced fighter jets in the Caribbean. The Trump administration had also expanded sanctions against Maduro's government and staged numerous strikes on vessels allegedly involved in drug trafficking in the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea, actions that have faced criticism regarding their legality and resulted in fatalities. Venezuelan government reports claimed civilian and military personnel died in the strikes, though specific figures were not provided.

Further amplifying the global outcry, Nigerian human rights activist Omoyele Sowore strongly criticized the United Nations, describing it as "impotent, compromised, and largely irrelevant" in light of Trump's "illegal regime change agenda" and the alleged kidnapping of Maduro. Sowore called for the UN's dissolution and its replacement with a truly credible global body designed to uphold justice and prevent tyranny.