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. The operation, ordered by the Trump administration, has removed the long-time leader from power and triggered a profound political crisis in the oil-rich nation [41033][41227][41379]. The capture occurred following U.S. military strikes, including in the capital Caracas, on Saturday, January 3, 2026 [40921][41055][41227]. Former U.S. President Donald Trump announced the operation, describing it as a "large-scale strike" that resulted in the detention of the Venezuelan leader [40942][41088]. Following the capture, Trump stated the United States would now "run" Venezuela to "fix" its collapsed oil infrastructure and "take back the oil" [41227][41525][42114]. Maduro and his wife have been taken out of Venezuela and are expected to face criminal charges in a New York court [41136][40970]. The specific charges reportedly include narco-terrorism, with Trump accusing Maduro of running a "narco terrorist organisation" [40942][40970]. The U.S. government has long labeled Maduro's rule illegitimate, accusing his administration of corruption, human rights abuses, and stealing elections [41136][40668][41525]. For years, the U.S. has recognized opposition leader Juan Guaidó as Venezuela's legitimate president and imposed severe economic sanctions on the country [41379][40505]. The immediate aftermath has created a dangerous power vacuum, with no clear successor named to lead Venezuela [41136][40970]. The U.S. has suggested that Maduro's deputy, Delcy Rodríguez, could follow U.S. orders as an interim president, but her compliance is uncertain [41525]. The action places the U.S. in direct control of a nation suffering from hyperinflation, severe food shortages, and a humanitarian crisis, despite holding the world's largest proven oil reserves [40871][42114]. There has been no immediate public statement from the Venezuelan military or the remnants of Maduro's government [41379][40668]. The capture of a sitting head of state on his own soil by a foreign military is a rare event in modern history and is expected to provoke intense international debate over sovereignty and international law [40668][40737][40942]. 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 U.S. Strikes Venezuela, Captures President Maduro Venezuelan President Captured in U.S. Military Raid