United States forces launched a large-scale military operation in Venezuela early on January 3, 2026, capturing President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, before flying them out of the country to face long-standing drug-related charges in New York.
President Donald Trump confirmed the operation in a post on his Truth Social platform, stating that Maduro and his wife had been “captured and flown out of the Country.” Explosions rocked Caracas and surrounding areas in the pre-dawn hours, with smoke rising from military sites including Fuerte Tiuna, the country’s largest garrison, and La Carlota airbase, as reported by witnesses and international media.
In a telephone interview with Fox News shortly after the announcement, Trump described watching the raid unfold in real time. “I’ve never seen anything like this. I was able to watch it in real time,” he said. “I watched it, literally, like I was watching a television show. And if you would have seen the speed, the violence.” He added that Maduro was in a heavily fortified residence, akin to a “fortress” with steel doors and a solid steel safe room. Maduro attempted to reach the safe space but was overtaken before he could secure it, Trump noted, adding that US forces were equipped with “massive blowtorches” to breach steel barriers if necessary, though they were not needed.
Trump emphasised that no US personnel were killed, though a few were injured and one helicopter sustained damage but returned safely. Maduro and Flores were transferred to the USS Iwo Jima, a US Navy amphibious assault ship, en route to New York.
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The operation marks the culmination of an escalating pressure campaign against Maduro, whom US authorities have accused since 2020 of leading the “Cartel of the Suns,” a drug trafficking network. A 2020 indictment in the Southern District of New York charged Maduro with narco-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine importation, and related offences. On January 3, Attorney General Pam Bondi announced a superseding indictment including Flores, covering narco-terrorism conspiracy, drug importation, and weapons charges. “They will soon face the full wrath of American justice on American soil in American courts,” Bondi posted on X.
The campaign intensified in recent months, with US forces striking over 30 vessels accused of drug trafficking in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific, seizing sanctioned oil tankers, and conducting a drone strike on a suspected cartel facility in late December. In August 2025, the Trump administration doubled a reward for Maduro’s capture to $50 million.
Venezuela’s Vice President Delcy Rodríguez, who would constitutionally assume power, demanded “immediate proof of life” for Maduro and Flores in a broadcast on state television, stating the government was unaware of their whereabouts. She reported deaths among civilians and military personnel but provided no figures. Pro-government supporters rallied in Caracas, while armed militias patrolled some areas.
Trump indicated US involvement in Venezuela’s future governance, telling reporters the country would be “run” by the United States until a “safe, proper and judicious transition.” He expressed interest in American oil companies restoring production, citing Venezuela’s vast reserves.
The raid draws parallels to the 1989 US invasion of Panama, which led to the capture of General Manuel Noriega on drug charges—exactly 36 years prior. Legal questions surround the operation’s authority, with some US lawmakers noting it lacked explicit congressional approval, though administration officials have referenced precedents and ongoing counter-narcotics efforts.
Regional reactions varied sharply. Allies like Argentina’s President Javier Milei welcomed the development, while Brazil’s Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva condemned it as a violation of international law, warning of instability. Colombia and Chile expressed concern, calling for peaceful resolution.
As details emerge, the operation reshapes hemispheric dynamics, ending Maduro’s 13-year rule amid Venezuela’s prolonged economic crisis, marked by hyperinflation, mass emigration, and disputed elections. Maduro succeeded Hugo Chávez in 2013, maintaining socialist policies that critics blame for the collapse, while supporters view him as resisting foreign interference.
