Venezuela live updates: Trump says US carried out strikes on Venezuela; Maduro and his wife 'captured'
President Donald Trump said the U.S."successfully carried out a large scale strike against Venezuela" and said Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife were "captured and flown out of the Country."The announcement on Trump’s social media platform came shortly before 4:30 a.m.
Saturday a few hours after several explosions were heard in Venezuela’s capital city of Caracas, witnesses said, and photos and videos showed plumes of smoke and a large fireball in the night sky.(FILES) (COMBO) This combination of pictures created on August 07, 2025 shows US President Donald Trump (L) in Washington, DC, on July 9, 2025, and Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro (R) in Caracas on July 31, 2024.Jim Watson,federico Parra/AFP via Getty ImagesTrump said the operation was carried out in conjunction with U.S.law enforcement and said he would hold a news conference at 11 a.m.
from Mar-a-Lago.This comes amid rising tensions between the U.S.and Venezuela including a build-up of U.S.
military forces in the Caribbean and the targeting of alleged drug-smuggling boats.Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro arrives with his wife Cilia Flores to deliver his annual speech to parliament in Caracas on January 15, 2025.President Donald Trump said on January 3, 2026, that US forces had captured Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro after launching a "large scale strike" on the South American country.Federico Parra/AFP via Getty ImagesMeanwhile, the Federal Aviation Administration has issued an alert prohibiting U.S.
civil aircraft from flying over Venezuela “due to safety-of-flight risks associated with ongoing military activity,” according to the FAA.Popular ReadsSeveral trails temporarily closed on California mountain after 3 hikers found deadJan 1, 11:51 AMWhy the 2026 NYE ball will drop again this yearJan 1, 8:01 AMSheriff releases dash cam video that may show missing 19-year-old girlDec 30, 7:53 AMThe Venezuelan government issued a statement condemning what it called "the grave mil...