In a dramatic escalation of tensions, US President Donald Trump has declared that Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, have been captured and removed from the country following a large-scale military assault on the capital, Caracas.
Pre-Dawn Assault Rocks the Capital
The incident unfolded in the early hours of Saturday, 3 January 2026, when residents of Caracas reported hearing explosions and witnessing low-flying aircraft over the city. The Venezuelan government swiftly confirmed that the capital, along with the states of Miranda, La Guaira, and Aragua, had come under attack.
President Trump asserted that the operation resulted in the capture of what he termed Venezuela's "dictator," Nicolás Maduro. He announced that a press conference would be held in Florida at 11am local time (4pm GMT) to provide further details.
Venezuela's Accusation of Imperial Aggression
In a strongly-worded official statement, the Venezuelan government accused the United States of launching attacks against both civilian and military targets. It labelled the action an "extremely serious" act of military aggression by Washington, warning it risked plunging Latin America into chaos.
"The entire country must mobilise to defeat this imperialist aggression," the statement urged its citizens, calling for a popular uprising against the assault. Venezuela has accused the US of seeking to seize control of the nation's vast resources, notably its oil and mineral reserves.
The government has called upon the international community to denounce what it describes as a flagrant violation of international law that endangers millions of lives.
International Reaction and Fallout
The attack prompted immediate concern from regional leaders. Gustavo Petro, the President of neighbouring Colombia, called for an urgent emergency session of the United Nations Security Council. He took to social media to state that Venezuela was under attack.
Visual evidence from the scene, including photographs from AFP/Getty Images, showed a burned-out vehicle at La Carlota air base in Caracas, underscoring the severity of the early morning assault. The situation remains fluid, with the world awaiting confirmation from the promised US press conference and the official Venezuelan response to the capture claims.
