CARACAS / WASHINGTON—In a stunning military operation that has reshaped the geopolitics of the Western Hemisphere overnight, U.S. special forces have captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro following a “large-scale strike” across the South American nation.
President Donald Trump announced the success of the mission, codenamed Operation Southern Spear, in a series of pre-dawn posts on Truth Social Saturday morning. “The United States of America has successfully carried out a large-scale strike against Venezuela and its leader, President Nicolas Maduro, who has been, along with his wife, captured and flown out of the Country,” Trump declared. “A new dawn for Venezuela!”
Midnight in Caracas: 30 Minutes of Fire
The operation began at approximately 1:50 a.m. local time, when a barrage of precision missiles and low-flying aircraft shattered the silence of the Venezuelan capital. Residents reported at least seven massive explosions that knocked out power across southern Caracas and illuminated the night sky over the Caribbean coast.
- The Targets: U.S. strikes focused on critical military infrastructure, including the Fuerte Tiuna military complex—the largest in the country—and the Generalissimo Francisco de Miranda Air Base. Communication antennas and port facilities in La Guaira were also disabled to prevent a coordinated counter-response.
- The Raid: While airstrikes suppressed air defenses, elite Delta Force operators reportedly executed a surgical ground raid to apprehend Maduro and First Lady Cilia Flores.
- The Capture: Trump confirmed that the couple had been “captured and flown out of the country” to face justice in the United States for long-standing criminal indictments related to “narco-terrorism.”
‘Maximum Pressure’ Reaches its Zenith
The intervention marks the first direct U.S. military regime change in Latin America since the 1989 invasion of Panama to depose Manuel Noriega. It follows months of an escalating naval blockade in the Caribbean, where the USS Gerald R. Ford and the USS Iwo Jima had been intercepting oil tankers and “drug-running” vessels.
“He will now—finally—face justice for his crimes. The era of the narco-state is over.” — Christopher Landau, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State
A Nation in ‘External Commotion’
In the wake of the President’s disappearance, Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez appeared on state television to denounce what she called a “criminal imperialist aggression.” Demanding “proof of life” for Maduro, she declared a state of “External Commotion” and ordered the “massive deployment” of all remaining military assets.
However, the rapid decapitation of the Venezuelan leadership appears to have left the military’s top brass in disarray. While Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López urged “national resistance,” there were no immediate reports of a significant counter-attack against U.S. assets in the region.
The International Fallout
The global reaction has been swift and polarized:
- The Critics: Colombian President Gustavo Petro and leaders in Cuba and Russia have condemned the strikes as a violation of the UN Charter and a “colonial war.”
- The Supporters: Key GOP figures, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, signaled that the military phase of the operation is largely complete. “No further action is anticipated now that Maduro is in U.S. custody,” stated Senator Mike Lee.
- The Market: Oil prices spiked in early Saturday trading as traders processed the potential loss of Venezuelan heavy-sour crude from the global market.
What Comes Next?
As smoke still rises from military hangars in Caracas, the focus shifts to Miami, where Maduro is expected to be arraigned. President Trump has scheduled a press conference at Mar-a-Lago for 11:00 a.m. local time to provide further details on the “brilliant” planning behind the raid.
For the millions of Venezuelans who have fled the country under Maduro’s rule, the news is a tectonic shift. But for those still in the country, the coming days will be defined by a “tense calm” as the world watches to see if the removal of the man at the top will lead to a transition toward democracy or a chaotic power vacuum.