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 plunged the South American nation into a leadership crisis [41033][41227][41379]. The capture occurred during an overnight operation on Saturday, January 3, 2026, which included airstrikes on targets in the capital, Caracas [40921][41055]. U.S. President Donald Trump announced the action, stating that American forces had successfully detained the Venezuelan leader [40505][41088]. Following the capture, President Trump declared 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 his wife have been transported out of Venezuela and are expected to face criminal charges in a New York court. The specific charges reportedly include narco-terrorism and drugs charges, with U.S. officials accusing Maduro of running a "narco terrorist organisation" [40942][40970][41136]. The U.S. government has long labeled Maduro's rule illegitimate, accusing his administration of corruption, human rights abuses, and stealing elections [40668][41136][41525]. For years, the United States has recognized opposition leader Juan Guaidó as Venezuela's legitimate president and imposed crippling economic sanctions on the country [41379][40505]. The immediate aftermath has created a dangerous power vacuum, with no clear successor named to lead Venezuela's government of 30 million people [41136][42114]. While President Trump suggested that Maduro's deputy, Delcy Rodríguez, should follow U.S. orders as an interim leader, she has so far defied those instructions [41525]. The Venezuelan military and remaining members of Maduro's government have not issued an immediate public statement [40668][41379]. The operation marks a direct and dramatic break from established international law, with analysts warning it sets a dangerous global precedent for military intervention in sovereign nations [40737][40942][41525]. The long-term plan for governing Venezuela, a country suffering from hyperinflation, food shortages, and a collapsed economy despite holding the world's largest proven oil reserves, remains unclear [40871][42114]. 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