U.S. Forces Capture Venezuelan President Maduro in Military Strike, Plan to "Run" Country

U.S. Forces Capture Venezuelan President Maduro in Military Strike, Plan to "Run" Country U.S. military forces have captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, following a series of strikes on Venezuelan territory, marking an unprecedented direct intervention in the South American nation [41033][41227][41379]. The operation, which occurred on Saturday, January 3, 2026, has removed the long-time leader from power and plunged Venezuela into a leadership crisis [40737][41136][42114]. Former U.S. President Donald Trump announced the operation, stating that American forces would now "run" Venezuela [41055][41525]. He emphasized a key goal is to "take back the oil" and fix the country's collapsed oil infrastructure, aiming to access Venezuela's vast proven reserves, the largest in the world [41227][40871][41525]. Trump suggested that Maduro's deputy, Delcy Rodríguez, should follow U.S. orders as an interim leader, but her compliance is uncertain [41525]. Maduro and his wife have been flown out of Venezuela and are expected to face criminal charges, including terrorism and drugs charges, in a New York court [41136][40871][40942]. U.S. officials have long labeled Maduro's government as illegitimate, accusing it of corruption, human rights abuses, and stealing elections [41136][40668][41525]. The immediate aftermath has created a dangerous power vacuum, with no clear successor named and the status of the remaining government unclear [41136][41379]. The Venezuelan military has not issued an immediate statement [41379]. The action represents a dramatic break from established international law and sets a new precedent for unilateral military intervention, sparking a global dispute over sovereignty [40737][40942][41525]. The long-term plan for governing Venezuela's 30 million people remains undefined, leaving the country facing deep uncertainty amid an existing economic collapse characterized by hyperinflation and severe humanitarian crisis [42114][40871]. U.S. Forces Capture Venezuelan President in Military Strike Venezuela Leader Ousted in U.S. Strike, Faces Charges in New York US Strikes Venezuela, Captures President Maduro U.S. Captures Venezuela's President in Secret Operation U.S. Forces Capture Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro US Strikes Venezuela, Abducts President Maduro US Captures Venezuelan President in "Large-Scale Strike" U.S. Military Strike Captures Venezuelan Leader Maduro U.S. Captures Maduro: What Now for Venezuela? US Seizes Venezuelan President, Vows to "Run" Country and "Take Back the Oil" U.S. Claims Capture of Venezuelan Leader in Military Strike U.S. Strikes Venezuela, Captures President Maduro US Captures Venezuelan President in Military Strike