US President Donald Trump announced that Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, have been captured by US forces in a “large-scale strike” and are being taken to New York to face indictment.
Trump stated that the US will “run” Venezuela until a “safe transition” of power, citing Maduro’s alleged crimes and threats to regional stability.
The operation, which involved elite US special forces, was described as a “decisive success” with no American casualties.
The capture has sparked international reactions, with Russia condemning the move and calling for Maduro’s release, while Venezuela’s opposition figure Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia sees it as a critical moment to “rebuild our nation”.
The US has accused Maduro of running a “narco-state” and rigging elections, and Trump has warned that anyone loyal to Maduro will face consequences.
Meanwhile, President Trump posted a photo of Maduro aboard the USS Iwo Jima wearing an eye covering, headphones, a gray tracksuit and holding a water bottle while a Drug Enforcement Administration agent is holding his arm.
However, what happens next for Venezuela remains uncertain, with potential legal challenges and international pressure.