US President Donald Trump announced on Saturday that he would speak to the media from his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida, hours after he claimed that US forces had carried out “massive strikes” inside Venezuela, capturing President Nicolas Maduro and his wife.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said the operation was conducted in coordination with US law enforcement. “The United States of America has successfully conducted a massive strike against Venezuela and its leader, President Nicolás Maduro, who has been captured and taken out of the country along with his wife,” Trump wrote. He added that more details will be shared at a press conference scheduled for 11 a.m. (local time) at Mar-a-Lago.
The Venezuelan government did not immediately confirm Trump’s claims, the AP reported.
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Several explosions were reported in Caracas in the early hours of Saturday, with residents sharing videos of bright flashes, smoke and a low-flying plane over the city. Reuters and Associated Press witnesses said the explosions lasted less than 30 minutes, although the extent of the damage and possible casualties remained unclear. Power outages were reported in several areas.
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The Venezuelan government accused the United States of attacking civilian and military installations, calling the action an “imperialist attack.” Authorities called on citizens to mobilize and said national defense plans had been activated, declaring a state of “external unrest”.
Following the reported attacks, the US Federal Aviation Administration temporarily banned US commercial flights from Venezuelan airspace, citing “ongoing military activity”. The US Embassy also issued an advisory asking US citizens in the country to shelter in place.
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If confirmed, the operation would represent one of the most direct US military actions in Latin America since the invasion of Panama in 1989. Washington has long accused Maduro of running a “narco-state” and rigging elections – charges he denies and accuses the US of attempting regime change to gain access to Venezuela’s vast oil reserves.
President Donald Trump has repeatedly accused Venezuela of diverting oil revenues to finance criminal activities, including drug trafficking and terrorism. As part of Washington’s pressure campaign, US forces have carried out strikes on vessels suspected of smuggling drugs, actions that have reportedly left more than 100 dead. The United States also seized two oil tankers linked to Venezuela.
President Trump, who has spent the past two weeks at his residence in Florida, is expected to provide further clarification during a speech today.
President Nicolas Maduro, who took office in 2013 after replacing Hugo Chávez, countered that Washington’s actions are aimed at regime change and gaining control of Venezuela’s vast oil reserves – the world’s largest, according to Reuters. In recent weeks, the US has stepped up the pressure further by imposing sanctions on Maduro’s relatives and on Chinese companies involved in trading Venezuelan oil.
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Meanwhile, Venezuela’s defense minister said authorities were gathering details of those killed and wounded in reported US strikes, Reuters reported. The US Embassy in Venezuela said it was aware of reports of explosions and advised people not to travel to the country and urged those already there to take cover.
Regional concern has also grown. Gustavo Petro, the president of neighboring Colombia, called an emergency meeting of the United Nations. “They are alerting the whole world that they have attacked Venezuela,” wrote Petro on X.
