US Military Captures Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro Amidst Political Controversy
The United States conducted a military operation resulting in the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, sparking a polarized response among U.S. politicians.
In a significant escalation of U.S.-Venezuela tensions, U.S. forces captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, during a pre-dawn raid in Caracas on January 3, 2026. The operation, involving over 150 aircraft, targeted key military installations and resulted in the couple being flown to New York to face charges related to narcotics trafficking.
The U.S. Attorney General, Pam Bondi, announced that Maduro and Flores had been indicted in the Southern District of New York on charges including narco-terrorism conspiracy and cocaine importation conspiracy.
Reactions among U.S. politicians were sharply divided. Republican Senator Tom Cotton praised the operation, stating that Maduro was "an illegitimate dictator" who ran a "vast drug-trafficking operation." Conversely, Democratic Senator Mark Warner criticized the unilateral military action, emphasizing that the U.S. Constitution places decisions about the use of military force in the hands of Congress.
The operation has also drawn international attention, with some leaders condemning the U.S. action as a violation of Venezuela's sovereignty, while others have expressed support for the removal of Maduro. The situation remains fluid as the international community monitors the unfolding events.
Source
The GuardianFact-checking
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