U.S. Military Captures Venezuelan President Maduro in Unprecedented Operation

In a significant escalation of tensions, the United States launched a military operation on January 3, 2026, targeting Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. The operation, codenamed "Operation Absolute Resolve," involved airstrikes across northern Venezuela, including the capital, Caracas.

During the pre-dawn raid, U.S. forces captured President Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. They were subsequently transported to the United States, where Attorney General Pam Bondi announced that both face charges of narcoterrorism in the Southern District of New York.

President Donald Trump justified the intervention by stating that the U.S. would oversee Venezuela's governance until a stable political transition is achieved. He emphasized that American companies would play a significant role in rebuilding and controlling Venezuela's oil infrastructure, asserting that the industry had been wrongfully taken by the socialist regime.

The operation has sparked international debate over its legality and implications. Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez condemned the U.S. action, declaring Maduro the rightful leader and denouncing the intervention as an "illegal and illegitimate kidnapping."

In the United States, reactions have been mixed. Senator Jack Reed criticized the president for initiating military action without congressional authorization, stating, "This has been a profound constitutional failure." Conversely, Representative Mike Rogers praised the operation, asserting that it would save American lives by dismantling a narco-terrorist network.

The United Nations Security Council has scheduled an emergency meeting to address the situation, as the international community grapples with the potential ramifications of this unprecedented action.