Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, along with his wife, has been captured and transported out of the country, President Donald Trump announced Saturday.
"The United States of America has successfully carried out a large scale strike against Venezuela and its leader, President Nicolas Maduro, who has been, along with his wife, captured and flown out of the Country", Trump said in a Truth Social post. Earlier Trump instructed the US military to strike Venezuela on Saturday, CBS reported, including military facilities. CNN reported that blasts were observed in Caracas on Saturday morning, with electricity cuts affecting the city. Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro declared a national emergency and a mobilization of troops.
Delta forces were used as part of the commando raid on Maduro, but details were not immediately available, CBS reported.
According to a Reuters report from early Saturday, an anonymous US official confirmed that the United States is conducting military operations within Venezuelan territory. The official did not disclose additional information about the strikes. Trump has accused the country of flooding the US with narcotics, leading to months of boat bombings. Many nations view these as extrajudicial killings, and Maduro's government has always denied any involvement with drug trafficking.
The United States has labeled Maduro's regime a "narco-state" and accused him of manipulating an election. Maduro, who assumed leadership in 2013 following Hugo Chavez, claims the U.S. aims to seize control of Venezuela's vast oil reserves, the largest globally.
Strikes were also seen in Miranda, Aragua and La Guaira, local officials said.
The Pentagon deferred to the White House, which offered no comment, according to Reuters. Maduro claims the Trump administration seeks regime change to access Venezuela's massive oil wealth.
The first detonation happened at roughly 1:50 a.m., according to the network. "One was so strong, my window was shaking after it," a CNN journalist stated.
BREAKING:
Massive U.S. airstrikes against military targets in Caracas, Venezuela.
Dozens of U.S. helicopters are flying above the Venezuelan capital city. pic.twitter.com/48hjTu84FT
— Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) January 3, 2026
Staff for the outlet heard aircraft overhead following the explosions, while power outages struck several neighborhoods.
Venezuela's government said the US efforts to seize resources will fail.
Video: Explosions in Venezuela / Credit: Social media
President Trump has threatened US action against drug networks in the country, warning that land strikes are coming "soon."
In October, the US leader claimed he directed the CIA to enter Venezuela to halt drug and migrant trafficking, the outlet added.
Last month, Trump announced a blockade on sanctioned ships to pressure Maduro, Reuters noted.
"At this moment they are bombing Caracas" Colombian President Gustavo Petro stated on X. "Alert everyone — they have attacked Venezuela. They are bombing with missiles. The (Organization of American States) and the UN must meet immediately."
Petro, a frequent critic of the US campaign, provided no evidence for his statement, according to Reuters.
The US has amassed significant military assets in the Caribbean, including warships and fighter jets. Beyond the blockade, Trump expanded sanctions and struck over two dozen alleged drug vessels in the Pacific and Caribbean, Reuters reported.
Last week, Trump said the US "hit" a drug-loading zone in Venezuela, marking the first known land operation since the campaign began, per Reuters.
He did not confirm if the CIA was involved, though other outlets reported the agency's role, Reuters added.
