On January 3, 2026, President Donald Trump announced on Truth Social that U.S. forces had successfully executed a “large-scale strike” in Venezuela, culminating in the capture of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.
According to Trump’s statement and reports from major news outlets, the operation involved the U.S. Army’s elite Delta Force. Maduro and his wife were reportedly apprehended during a coordinated mission and subsequently “flown out of the country.”
The capture followed a series of pre-dawn explosions and airstrikes across Caracas and the Venezuelan states of Miranda, La Guaira, and Aragua. Eyewitnesses in the capital described at least seven major blasts, along with sightings of low-flying aircraft near key military sites, including La Carlota airport and Fuerte Tiuna.
Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez responded by confirming that Maduro’s current location was unknown, demanding “immediate proof of life.” Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López sharply condemned the operation, calling it a “criminal” invasion and “military aggression.” He declared a national state of emergency and ordered the mobilization of Venezuela’s armed forces, urging resistance against foreign intervention.
The Trump administration has long accused Maduro of presiding over a “narco-state” and leading an international drug trafficking organization.
President Trump is scheduled to hold a press conference at Mar-a-Lago at 11:00 A.M. EST today, January 3, 2026, to provide further details on the operation and its aftermath.
Stay tuned for continuing coverage and official updates as this unprecedented development unfolds.
