The United States carried out a significant military operation early Saturday morning targeting Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. President Donald Trump announced that American forces captured Maduro and his wife, First Lady Cilia Flores. The pair were transported out of Venezuela following the coordinated strike.
Trump posted on Truth Social at 5:21 a.m. local time, confirming the operation. “The United States of America has successfully carried out a large-scale strike against Venezuela and its leader,” Trump stated. He indicated that U.S. law enforcement agencies coordinated with military units for the mission.
Trump’s post on Truth SocialThe operation unfolded over several hours as explosions rocked the Venezuelan capital of Caracas and other locations throughout the country. Eyewitnesses reported hearing loud blasts and seeing thick plumes of smoke rising across various parts of the capital. The Federal Aviation Administration subsequently issued a prohibition on U.S. commercial flights within Venezuelan airspace due to the ongoing military activity.
Delta Force Led the Capture Operation
The U.S. Army’s Delta Force, the military’s elite special mission unit, executed the actual capture of Maduro. Officials at CBS News confirmed that members of Delta Force carried out the operation targeting the Venezuelan president. Delta Force operates under the Joint Special Operations Command and specialises in counterterrorism, hostage rescue, and high-value capture missions.
The unit previously led the 2019 operation that killed Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. Its involvement in the Venezuela operation signals the high-level nature of the mission targeting Maduro. The unit recruits experienced soldiers from elite Army formations, including Rangers and Special Forces.
President Maduro arrested by the U.S. Army’s Delta Force
President Trump confirmed that the operation received prior approval from his administration. Two U.S. officials disclosed that Trump authorised the Venezuela strikes days before the operation occurred. Military officials had previously discussed conducting the mission on Christmas Day, but other strategic priorities took precedence. Weather conditions also factored into the timing of the final operation.
Legal Background of Maduro’s Indictment
Maduro faced criminal charges in the United States dating back to March 2020. The U.S. indicted him on narco-terrorism charges in the Southern District of New York, along with more than a dozen other Venezuelan officials. Federal prosecutors alleged that Maduro collaborated with the Colombian guerrilla group FARC to traffic cocaine and weapons into the United States.
U.S. authorities also accused Maduro of leading a criminal organisation called Cartel de los Soles. The Trump administration designated this group as a foreign terrorist organisation in 2025. The administration further designated Tren de Aragua, another gang linked to the Maduro regime, as an international terrorist organisation.
The Trump administration doubled the reward for information leading to Maduro’s capture to $50 million in the summer of 2025, raising it from the previous $25 million bounty. This significant financial incentive underscored the U.S. government’s determination to apprehend the Venezuelan leader.
Legal Background of Maduro
International Legal Justification and Constitutional Authority
Secretary of State Marco Rubio provided legal justification for the military operation. Senator Mike Lee, a Utah Republican, disclosed that Rubio cited Article II of the U.S. Constitution as the basis for the action without formal congressional declaration of war or military authorisation.
Lee stated that Rubio indicated Maduro was arrested by U.S. personnel to stand trial on criminal charges in the United States. Rubio told Lee that the kinetic action was deployed to protect and defend those executing the arrest warrant. Lee further noted that Rubio “anticipates no further action in Venezuela now that Maduro is in U.S. custody.”
Attorney General Pam Bondi remarked that Maduro and his wife would soon face American justice. “Maduro and his wife will soon face the full wrath of American justice on American soil in American courts,” she stated.
Also Read: Venezuela’s Capital Caracas Experiences Overnight Bombing Following Trump’s Military Threats
Venezuelan Government Response and Regional Reactions
Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez confirmed that both Maduro and his wife were no longer in the country. She demanded “proof of life” and called for the immediate release of information regarding their whereabouts.
The Venezuelan government declared a national emergency in response to the military strikes. Caracas denounced what officials called U.S. military aggression and unjustified foreign intervention.
Colombia and Chile, which border Venezuela, expressed significant concern. Colombian President Gustavo Petro announced he would convene a National Security Council meeting and increase troop deployment along the border to prepare for a potential refugee influx. Chilean President Gabriel Boric condemned the military action, emphasising that the Venezuelan crisis should be resolved through dialogue and multilateralism rather than military force.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro increased troop deployment along the border
Guyanese President Irfaan Ali convened an emergency meeting of military and security personnel early Saturday, indicating close monitoring of the developing situation.
Escalation Following Months of Pressure
This military operation culminated months of escalating U.S. pressure on the Maduro regime. The Trump administration had assembled what Trump described as “the largest Armada ever assembled in the History of South America.” Previous operations included strikes on alleged drug trafficking boats and seizures of oil tankers off Venezuelan coasts in December.
Trump had repeatedly warned that his administration would expand strikes from maritime operations to land targets. He declared in a December Cabinet meeting that land operations would commence “very soon.” The Venezuela operation marks the implementation of that stated strategy against Latin American drug trafficking routes and targets.
The capture of Maduro represents an unprecedented escalation in U.S.-Venezuela relations and signals a significant shift in American foreign policy approach to hostile leaders in the Western Hemisphere.
