US President Donald Trump on Saturday claimed that Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and First Lady Cilia Flores had been “captured” and “flown out of the country,” while confirming that American forces had carried out what he described as a “large-scale strike” on Venezuela. If verified, the operation would mark the most direct US military intervention in a Latin American nation since the 1989 invasion of Panama that led to the removal of Manuel Noriega.
The White House did not immediately provide further details on the location of Maduro and Flores or the circumstances surrounding their alleged capture. Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez later appeared on state television, stating that the government was unaware of the president’s whereabouts. “We do not know the whereabouts of President Nicolas Maduro and First Lady Cilia Flores,” she said, while demanding proof that they were alive.
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Hours before Trump’s announcement, residents of Caracas reported hearing loud explosions across the capital starting around 2 am local time. Videos shared on social media showed multiple buildings engulfed in flames, with reports also indicating a power outage in parts of southern Caracas, close to a major military installation.
According to a government statement, attacks were not limited to the capital. Explosions and strikes were also reported in the states of Miranda, Aragua and La Guaira, suggesting a coordinated operation across several regions. Emergency services were placed on high alert, though official figures on casualties or damage were not immediately released.
The developments have raised serious concerns across the region, with international observers closely monitoring the rapidly evolving situation in Venezuela.
