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 In an unprecedented military escalation, United States forces have captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, during a large-scale strike on Venezuelan territory [41033][41227][40942]. The operation, ordered by the Trump administration, has removed the long-time leader from power and plunged the oil-rich nation into immediate uncertainty [42114]. The capture occurred overnight on Saturday, with reports indicating the couple was taken from their home in the capital, Caracas [40970]. Following the operation, former U.S. President Donald Trump announced that the United States would now "run" Venezuela, with a stated goal to "take back the oil" and fix the country's collapsed energy infrastructure [41227][40871][41525]. Venezuela holds the world's largest proven oil reserves, but its production has cratered amid years of economic crisis [40871]. Maduro and Flores are now in U.S. custody and have been flown to New York to face criminal charges, which include accusations of narco-terrorism and running a "narco terrorist organisation" [41136][40942][40970]. 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 direct military intervention and capture of a sitting head of state marks a dramatic break from established international law and sets a dangerous global precedent, analysts say [40737][41525]. The action creates a severe power vacuum in Caracas, with no clear successor named and the status of the remaining government unclear [41136][41379]. While the U.S. has recognized opposition leader Juan Guaidó as Venezuela's legitimate president since 2019, Trump has suggested Maduro's deputy, Delcy Rodríguez, should follow U.S. orders, though she has so far defied them [41379][41525]. The immediate military action appears complete, but the long-term plan for governing a nation of 30 million people suffering from hyperinflation and humanitarian crisis remains undefined [42114][41055]. The international community is awaiting further details and confirmation, with reactions from global capitals still emerging [40668][40505]. 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 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 US Captures Venezuelan President in Military Strike U.S. Strikes Venezuela, Captures President Maduro Venezuelan President Captured in U.S. Military Raid