U.S. Military Operation Captures Venezuelan President Maduro

In a significant escalation of tensions, the United States launched a military operation on January 3, 2026, resulting in the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. The operation, codenamed "Operation Absolute Resolve," involved airstrikes targeting multiple locations across northern Venezuela, including the capital, Caracas.

The strikes commenced around 2:00 a.m. local time, with U.S. forces bombing key military installations to disable Venezuela's air defense systems. Satellite imagery revealed substantial damage at Fuerte Tiuna, Caracas' principal military base, including destroyed storage buildings and vehicles.

Following the airstrikes, U.S. special forces conducted a helicopter operation to apprehend Maduro and Flores. The couple was taken from their residence within the Fuerte Tiuna complex and transported to the USS Iwo Jima, a U.S. warship stationed off the Venezuelan coast. They were subsequently flown to New York, where U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi announced that both would face charges related to narcotics trafficking.

President Donald Trump addressed the nation, stating that the United States would temporarily oversee Venezuela until a "safe, proper, and judicious transition" could be achieved. He emphasized that U.S. oil companies would be involved in rebuilding and controlling Venezuela's oil infrastructure, asserting that the industry had been wrongfully taken from the U.S. by the socialist regime.

The operation has drawn widespread international condemnation. Russian President Vladimir Putin demanded the immediate release of Maduro, calling the U.S. action a violation of Venezuelan sovereignty. China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed deep shock and strong condemnation, stating that the attack seriously violated international law and threatened regional peace and security.

Latin American leaders also voiced their concerns. Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva referred to the strikes and capture as a "very serious affront to the sovereignty of Venezuela and an extremely dangerous precedent to all the international community." Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum condemned the U.S. military action, stating that it "seriously jeopardizes regional stability."

Within Venezuela, Vice President Delcy Rodríguez, who is constitutionally next in line for the presidency, addressed the nation, describing Maduro as Venezuela's "only president" and calling for calm and unity to defend the country. She did not assume the presidency, and the political situation in Venezuela remains uncertain.

The United Nations Security Council has scheduled an emergency meeting to address the situation, as the international community grapples with the implications of the U.S. intervention and the potential for further destabilization in the region.