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 during overnight strikes on Saturday, January 3, 2026, with some reports indicating the couple was taken from their home in the capital, Caracas [40970][41088]. Following the operation, former U.S. President Donald Trump announced that the United States would now "run" Venezuela, with a stated goal of taking control of the country's vast oil reserves [41227][41525][42114]. Maduro and Flores have been transported out of Venezuela and are expected to face criminal charges in a New York court. The charges are reported to include narco-terrorism and drug trafficking offenses [40942][41136][40970]. U.S. officials have long labeled Maduro's government as illegitimate, accusing it of corruption, human rights abuses, and ties to drug cartels [40668][41136][41379]. The immediate aftermath has created a dangerous power vacuum in Venezuela, with no clear successor named to lead the country of 30 million people [41136][42114]. The U.S. has recognized opposition leader Juan Guaidó as Venezuela's legitimate president since 2019, but it is unclear if he will assume control [41379][40505]. Trump suggested that Maduro's deputy, Delcy Rodríguez, should follow U.S. orders as an interim leader, but she has so far defied those demands [41525]. The military action marks a direct and dramatic break from established international norms, representing the first major U.S. military attack on South American land in decades [40737][41525]. While the immediate military objectives appear complete, the long-term plan for governing Venezuela—a nation suffering from hyperinflation, food shortages, and a collapsed economy despite holding the world's largest proven oil reserves—remains unclear [41227][42114]. There has been no immediate public statement from the Venezuelan military or the remnants of Maduro's government. The international community is awaiting further details and confirmation, with reactions expected to be deeply divided [40668][41379]. 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