U.S. President Donald J. Trump announced early Saturday that the United States carried out a large-scale military strike inside Venezuela and that Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were captured and flown out of the country following the operation. 

According to Trump’s statement posted on Truth Social, the operation was conducted in coordination with U.S. law enforcement and “successfully” achieved its objectives, though details about the legal justification, specific units involved, and the destination to which Maduro and his wife were transported have not been disclosed. A news conference at Mar-a-Lago has been scheduled for later today. 

Explosions and low-flying aircraft were reported early Saturday across Caracas and several states, including Miranda, La Guaira, and Aragua, where both military and possibly civilian installations were struck by U.S. strikes. Videos and eyewitness accounts indicate multiple blasts and blackout conditions in parts of the capital. 

The Venezuelan government condemned the strike as a “very serious act of military aggression” and has declared a nationwide state of emergency, calling on social and political forces to mobilize in defense of sovereignty. Vice President Delcy Rodríguez demanded proof of life for Maduro and denied any cooperation with the U.S. forces. 

International reaction has been swift and volatile. Latin American leaders have called for an immediate session of the U.N. Security Council, citing violations of Venezuela’s territorial sovereignty. Cuba and Iran joined Caracas in condemnation, while other capitals have called for restraint and international legal review. 

This marks a watershed moment in U.S.-Venezuela relations — a direct military operation that bypasses prolonged sanctions and diplomatic channels, raising urgent questions about international law, regional stability, and the future political order in Caracas.