WASHINGTON: The United States has launched strikes inside Venezuela, according to a U.S. official who spoke to Reuters early Saturday on condition of anonymity. No operational details were provided.
President Donald Trump later claimed the strikes resulted in the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, who he said was taken out of the country. In a post on Truth Social, Trump said the United States carried out a large-scale operation against Venezuela and detained Maduro and his wife. There was no immediate confirmation from Venezuelan authorities.
If confirmed, the action would mark the most direct U.S. military intervention in Latin America since the 1989 invasion of Panama that removed Manuel Noriega. Explosions and aircraft-like sounds were reported overnight in Caracas, with witnesses describing smoke and power outages near a major military base.
The strikes follow weeks of heightened U.S. pressure, including expanded sanctions, naval deployments in the Caribbean, and the informal closure of Venezuelan airspace. Trump has repeatedly accused Maduro of leading a “narco-state” and manipulating elections, allegations the Venezuelan leader denies, arguing Washington is targeting the country over its vast oil reserves.
U.S. forces have also conducted maritime strikes against suspected drug trafficking targets in the region, though officials have released limited evidence. The legality and human toll of the campaign have drawn scrutiny.
