The United States hit with a “large-scale strike” early Saturday, capturing the country’s president, , and flying him out of the country after months of stepped-up pressure by Washington.
President announced the details in a news conference Saturday morning.
“At my direction, the United States Armed Forces conducted an extraordinary military operation in the capital of Venezuela,” he said.
“Air, land and sea was used to launch a spectacular attack.”
Trump claimed U.S. forces “successfully captured Maduro in the dead of night,” adding, “We are going to run the country until such time as we can do a safe, proper and judicious transition.”
Under Venezuelan law, Vice President Delcy Rodríguez would normally take power.
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There was no confirmation that had happened, though she issued a statement after the strike.
“We do not know the whereabouts of President Nicolás Maduro and First Lady Cilia Flores,” Rodríguez said. “We demand proof of life.”
The Venezuelan government condemned what it called an “imperialist attack” and urged citizens to take to the streets.
Multiple explosions rang out and low-flying aircraft swept through Caracas, the capital, on Jan. 3.
Maduro’s government immediately accused the United States of attacking civilian and military installations.
Gen. Dan Caine described “Operation Absolute Resolve,” as “discreet, precise and conducted during the darkest hours.”
He added that the strikes were a “culmination of months of planning and rehearsal, an operation that only the United States military could undertake.”
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre congratulated Trump on X, calling Maduro a “narco-terrorist and socialist dictator” and urging a transition to opposition leadership.
Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand also took to X with a statement that said Canada continues to refuse to recognize the legitimacy of the Maduro regime and is “monitoring developments closely.”
“Canada calls on all parties to respect international law and we stand by the people of Venezuela,” Anand said in a statement.
The Government of Canada has updated its travel advisory, urging citizens to avoid all travel to Venezuela, warning the situation is “tense and could escalate quickly.”
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