Trump claims US strike and Maduro’s capture

January 03, 2026 / 3:50 PM

Picture of fire at Fuerte Tiuna, Venezuela's largest military complex, after a series of explosions in Caracas

Sharjah 24 – AFP: US President Donald Trump said on Saturday that American forces carried out a “large-scale strike” on Venezuela and captured President Nicolás Maduro, claiming the Venezuelan leader was flown out of the country following the operation.

Trump made the announcement on his Truth Social platform, around two hours after explosions were reported in Caracas. Venezuela’s government has not confirmed Maduro’s fate and instead condemned what it described as an “extremely serious military aggression” by the United States.

Explosions rock Caracas overnight

Residents of the Venezuelan capital reported hearing explosions and helicopters around 2:00 am local time, with blasts continuing for nearly an hour. AFP journalists witnessed flames and large plumes of smoke rising from Fuerte Tiuna, the country’s largest military complex.

Strikes were also reported near La Guaira, north of Caracas, where the main airport and port are located. Parts of the capital experienced power outages as events unfolded.

Venezuelan government response

Venezuela’s government accused Washington of targeting residential areas and announced a massive deployment of military resources. Officials said a state of emergency had been declared, though Maduro was not seen publicly following the attacks.

The defence ministry denounced the strikes, while authorities rejected and condemned the operation before the international community.

Regional and international reactions

Colombian President Gustavo Petro called for an emergency United Nations meeting and said troops were being deployed along Colombia’s border with Venezuela. In Caracas, residents rushed to windows or sheltered indoors, sharing videos of helicopters flying over the city.

Trump praises operation

In comments to The New York Times, Trump described the operation as “brilliant,” crediting detailed planning and US forces. He announced plans to hold a news conference later in the day from his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida.

Background to rising tensions

The strikes followed weeks of escalating US military and economic pressure on Venezuela. Trump has repeatedly threatened action against Maduro, whose 2024 re-election was widely disputed internationally.

Washington has accused Maduro of leading a drug cartel, allegations he denies, saying the US is seeking to overthrow his government due to Venezuela’s vast oil reserves. Recent measures have included sanctions, the seizure of oil tankers, and reported US strikes on vessels alleged to be involved in drug trafficking.