United States President Donald Trump has claimed that Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife have been captured and removed from the country following an overnight military operation in Venezuela.
In a statement posted on his Truth Social platform on Friday, Trump said the operation took place in the capital, Caracas, and involved coordinated action by US forces and law enforcement agencies.
“The United States successfully carried out a large-scale strike against Venezuela and its leader, President Nicolás Maduro, who has been, along with his wife, captured and flown out of the country,” Trump wrote.
Venezuelan authorities earlier confirmed explosions in Caracas overnight on January 3, amid reports of intensified US military activity in the region. The developments followed weeks of escalating rhetoric from Washington and a significant buildup of American military assets in the Caribbean.
Media reports indicate that the explosions came after the deployment of US naval forces, including guided-missile destroyers, a missile cruiser, and a Marine Corps amphibious ready group. The USS Gerald R. Ford, the world’s largest aircraft carrier, had also been positioned in the region in recent months.
The reported operation follows a broader US campaign that began in September, involving actions against suspected drug-trafficking vessels in the Caribbean and Pacific. In late December, the campaign expanded with the seizure of oil tankers traveling to and from Venezuelan ports.