André Rhoden-Paul and Mallory Moenchand
BBC Confirm
The US has captured Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro after a large-scale strike on the South American nation, US President Donald Trump has stated.
Trump stated Venezuela’s left-wing president and his spouse had been flown out in a navy operation carried out together with US legislation enforcement. They’ve been charged with drug and weapons offences in New York.
It comes after explosions had been reported throughout the capital Caracas within the early hours of Saturday morning, together with at navy bases.
The Venezuelan authorities deployed its armed forces and declared a nationwide emergency.
Maduro’s seize comes after heightened tensions between the 2 international locations, with Washington putting boats within the Caribbean it says are getting used to hold medication.
The US has accused the Venezuelan president of being personally concerned in drug-smuggling and being an illegitimate chief, whereas Maduro has accused the US of intimidation and eager to seize its oil.
Trump throughout a information convention on Saturday stated the US would “run” Venezuela “till a protected and correct and even handed transition”, including that American oil firms would additionally transfer into the nation.
Here’s what we all know thus far.
What do we all know concerning the operation?
Maduro was captured by the US military’s Delta Pressure – the navy’s prime counter terrorism unit, the BBC’s US information accomplice CBS Information reported.
A CIA supply contained in the Venezuelan authorities helped the US observe Maduro’s location within the lead-up – a part of an intensive intelligence community, CBS stated.
Talking alongside Trump on Saturday, Gen Dan Caine, chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Employees, stated Operation Absolute Resolve took months of planning and rehearsals, with forces ready for the fitting climate.
Greater than 150 plane had been used to get an extraction crew into the capital.
The crew got here in and entered Maduro’s compound – “a home that was extra like a fortress”, in accordance with Trump – at 02:01 native time (06:01 GMT) – with the lights in Caracas having been turned off by the Individuals.
The US president stated Maduro tried to get right into a steel-fortified protected place, made it to the door, however was unable to shut it.
He added that no US forces had been killed and there have been “few” accidents within the operation, which he stated he watched dwell.
Maduro and his spouse had been then placed on a ship on their approach to New York.
Donald TrumpConcurrently the operation, loud explosions had been heard in Caracas, whereas plumes of smoke had been seen rising over the town.
Movies of explosions and helicopters flying overhead have been circulating on social media, however they haven’t been verified but.
It’s not recognized if there have been any casualties.
The Venezuelan authorities additionally stated the states of Miranda, Aragua and La Guaira had been additionally hit.
Trump stated US forces had been “ready for a second wave” however didn’t should conduct one as a result of the primary was “so highly effective”.
AFP through Getty PhotographsThe place had been the strikes?
BBC Confirm is working by means of quite a lot of movies exhibiting explosions, fireplace and smoke in areas round Caracas to establish precisely which websites had been focused.
It has confirmed 5 areas, thus far:
- Generalissimo Francisco de Miranda Air Base, an airfield often known as La Carlota
- Fuerte Tiuna, a key navy facility in Caracas
- Port La Guaira, Caracas’ principal conduit to the Caribbean Sea, situated in Miranda state
- Higuerote Airport, additionally situated in Miranda state, simply east of Caracas
- Antenas El Volcan, a telecomms towers on Cerro El Volcan, a excessive peak in Miranda state
How has Venezuela reacted?
Vice-President Delcy Rodríguez on state tv appealed for calm and unity, known as for the discharge of Maduro, who she stated was the “solely president”, and added that Venezuela would by no means be a colony of any nation.
Earlier on Saturday, Trump stated Rodríguez had been sworn in as president and had spoken to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and advised him “we’ll do no matter you want”, Trump stated. “She actually would not have a selection,” Trump added.
The nation’s defence minister Vladimir Padrino López earlier claimed the strikes hit civilian areas and stated the federal government was compiling details about lifeless and injured folks.
He added that Venezuela would “resist” the presence of overseas troops.
Venezuela’s authorities issued an official assertion denouncing the “extraordinarily critical navy aggression” by the US “in opposition to Venezuelan territory and inhabitants in civilian and navy areas”.
It additionally accused the US of threatening worldwide peace and stability and described the assault as an try to seize “Venezuela’s strategic sources, notably its oil and minerals” in an try to “forcibly break the political independence of the nation”.
What’s going to occur to Venezuela subsequent?
Throughout Saturday’s information convention, Trump stated the US was going “to run the nation till such time as we are able to do a protected and correct and even handed transition”.
Requested by reporters about Venezuela’s opposition chief and 2025 Nobel Peace winner María Corina Machado, Trump stated she didn’t have assist or respect.
Earlier on social media, Machado had stated “the hour of freedom has arrived” and known as for Edmundo González Urrutia, who in accordance with vote tallies launched by her celebration gained the 2024 election, to imagine energy.
Trump additionally stated American oil firms would transfer in to repair infrastructure “and begin getting cash for the nation”.
He stated “we’ll be taking an incredible quantity of wealth from the bottom” which might go to folks in Venezuela and to the US, including “we’ll get reimbursed for every part we have spent”.
He additionally stated the US would promote oil to different international locations.
Requested whether or not US troops could be deployed to Venezuela, Trump stated “we’re not afraid of shoes on the bottom”.
What has Maduro been charged with?
US legal professional Common Pam Bondi stated Maduro and his spouse, First Girl Cilia Flores, had been indicted within the Southern District of New York.
They’ve been charged with conspiracy to commit narco-terrorism and import cocaine, possession of machine weapons and harmful units, and conspiracy to own machine weapons and harmful units in opposition to the US.
“They are going to quickly face the total wrath of American justice on American soil in American courts,” Bondi wrote on X.
Who’s Maduro and why has he been captured?
Nicolás Maduro rose to prominence below the management of left-wing President Hugo Chávez and his United Socialist Celebration of Venezuela (PSUV). He succeeded Chávez as president in 2013.
In 2024, Maduro was declared winner of the presidential election, regardless that voting tallies collected by the opposition prompt that its candidate, Edmundo González, had gained by a landslide.
He has been at odds with Trump over the arrival of lots of of 1000’s of Venezuelan migrants within the US and the motion of medicine into the US, particularly fentanyl and cocaine.
Trump has designated two Venezuelan drug gangs – Tren de Aragua and Cartel de los Soles – as International Terrorist Organisations (FTOs) and has alleged that the latter was led by Maduro himself.
The US had supplied a $50m (£37m) reward for info resulting in Maduro’s arrest.
Maduro has vehemently denied being a cartel chief and has accused the US of utilizing its “conflict on medication” as an excuse to attempt to depose him and get its arms on Venezuela’s huge oil reserves.
In latest months, US forces have additionally carried out greater than two dozen strikes in worldwide waters on boats it alleges have been used to traffick medication into the US. Greater than 100 folks have been killed.
ReutersWho’s Maduro’s spouse, Cilia Flores?
First Girl Cilia Flores – who was additionally taken to the US and indicted alongside her husband – has held quite a lot of senior posts in Venezuela, together with legal professional common and president of the nationwide meeting. She is seen as a strong political operator in her personal proper.
Flores, 59, is colloquially often known as Maduro’s primera combatiente (first warrior), and has typically been pictured at his aspect throughout public engagements.
Like her husband, she was residing below US sanctions – which had been imposed throughout Trump’s first presidency on the allegation that she was concerned in Maduro’s corrupt practices. On the time, Maduro hit again by saying: “You do not mess with Cilia. You do not mess with household.”
Flores is a lawyer by coaching, and she or he as soon as fought for the discharge from jail of Hugo Chávez, who tried to grab management of the Venezuelan authorities in 1992 and later went on to turn out to be the nation’s president. Her profession turned perpetually linked with Chávez’s motion.
Flores’s tenure as head of the Nationwide Meeting was not with out controversy, together with her choice to ban press entry to the parliamentary chamber, and accusations of nepotism.
Flores’s kin have beforehand been focused by the Individuals on related accusations of medicine trafficking. In 2015, two of her nephews had been arrested in Haiti and convicted and imprisoned within the US on medication costs. They had been later launched below a 2022 prisoner swap.
How produce other international locations reacted?
The preliminary information of the strikes prompted the strongest response from Venezuela’s long-term allies.
Russia accused the US of committing “an act of armed aggression” that was “deeply regarding and condemnable”.
China’s overseas ministry stated in an announcement that it was “deeply shocked and strongly condemns” the usage of drive in opposition to a sovereign nation and its president.
Iran’s overseas ministry known as the strikes a “flagrant violation of the nation’s nationwide sovereignty”.
Venezuela’s neighbours Colombia and Brazil criticised the strikes.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro known as the strikes an “assault on the sovereignty” of Latin America, whereas Cuba’s President Miguel Diaz-Canel described it as a “felony assault”.
Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula Da Silva wrote on X that the bombings and Maduro’s seize “cross an unacceptable line”, including “attacking international locations in flagrant violation of worldwide legislation is step one towards a world of violence, chaos, and instability”.
Chile’s President Gabriel Boric expressed “concern and condemnation” on X and known as for “a peaceable resolution to the intense disaster affecting the nation”.
Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Cane accused the US of a “felony assault”.
In the meantime, Trump’s ally in Argentina, Javier Milei, wrote “Freedom strikes ahead” and “Lengthy dwell freedom” on social media.
On the worldwide stage, UN Secretary Common Antonio Guterres is “deeply alarmed” by the strikes, together with his spokesman saying in an announcement it units a “harmful precedent”.
The UN chief is “deeply involved that the foundations of worldwide legislation haven’t been revered” and calls on all actors in Venezuela to have interaction in inclusive dialogue, in full respect of human rights and the rule of legislation”, his spokesman stated.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated his authorities would “shed no tears” concerning the finish of Maduro’s regime and would focus on the “evolving scenario” in Venezuela with US counterparts.
The EU’s prime diplomat Kaja Kallas reiterated the bloc’s place that Maduro lacks legitimacy and that there must be a peaceable transition of energy, however stated the rules of worldwide legislation have to be revered.
French President Emmanuel Macron stated the transition of energy “have to be peaceable, democratic, and respectful of the desire of the Venezuelan folks” in a put up on X.
He added he hoped González – the opposition’s 2024 presidential candidate – may make sure the transition.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz stated the legality of the US operation was “advanced” and worldwide legislation typically should apply. He warned that “political instability should not be allowed to come up in Venezuela”.
The workplace of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni stated the federal government believed “exterior navy motion just isn’t the best way to finish totalitarian regimes” however stated it thought-about “defensive intervention” in opposition to hybrid assaults to be “authentic, as within the case of state entities that gas and promote drug trafficking”.
