The United States has issued a ‘level 4’ travel advisory following its ‘extensive strike’ against Venezuela, warning Americans against traveling to the South American nation, citing the risk of ‘improper detention, torture in custody, terrorism, kidnapping, arbitrary local law enforcement, crime, civil unrest and poor health infrastructure’.
A Level 4 travel advisory from the US – designated as “Do Not Travel” is the highest level of warning in terms of travel advisories – indicating life-threatening risks.
The US administration led by Donald Trump – in its travel advisory – said anyone with US citizenship or any other US residency status in Venezuela should leave the country immediately, including those traveling on Venezuelan or other foreign passports.
The US has said it has no way to contact US nationals detained in Venezuela, and those detained are not allowed to contact family members or independent legal counsel. Independent human rights organizations report that detainees have been subjected to torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, including severe beatings, prolonged restraint in stressful positions and waterboarding, citing former detainees.
Security alert issued
The US Embassy in Caracas has issued a security alert saying the US Embassy in Bogota is aware of reports of explosions in and around Caracas, Venezuela.
“The U.S. Embassy in Bogota, Colombia is warning U.S. citizens not to travel to Venezuela. U.S. citizens in Venezuela should shelter in place,” the alert read.
Conflict between the US and Venezuela – What happened in Caracas?
At least seven explosions, accompanied by the sound of a low-flying plane, were reportedly heard around 2 a.m. (local time) Saturday in Venezuela’s capital, Caracas, jolting residents from their sleep.
People in various neighborhoods ran into the streets after the explosions. A witness told the AP: “The whole ground shook. It’s terrible. We heard explosions and planes in the distance.”
Follow all the live updates of the bombing of Venezuela here
The attacks took place in Caracas and the states of Miranda, Aragua and La Guaira, the Venezuelan government said in a statement, according to Reuters. According to a CNN report, there were power outages in several neighborhoods following the strikes.
Following the attacks, Donald Trump confirmed on Truth Social that “the US has successfully conducted a massive strike against Venezuela and its leader”. He also claimed that Maduro and his wife were captured and taken out of the country.
The bombings in Venezuela occurred at a time when the US military was targeting ships allegedly smuggling drugs. On Friday, Venezuela said it was open to negotiations on an anti-drug deal with the US.
Why did the US attack Venezuela? Key points to know
Maduro’s capture comes days after the U.S. offered a $50 million reward for information leading to Nicolas Maduro’s arrest, doubling an earlier $25 million reward set by the Trump administration in January 2025.
The US has accused the Venezuelan leader of being one of the world’s top narcotics traffickers and working with cartels to flood the US with fentanyl-laced cocaine.
In 2020, federal prosecutors alleged that Maduro and other senior Venezuelan government officials worked with the Colombian guerrilla group Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia, or FARC, to smuggle cocaine and weapons into the United States.
