US Forces Snatch Venezuela's Maduro, Vow to "Run" Country and Seize Its Oil

US Forces Snatch Venezuela's Maduro, Vow to "Run" Country and Seize Its Oil

U.S. military forces have captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, in a series of strikes on Venezuelan soil, marking an unprecedented direct intervention by Washington in the South American nation [41033][41227][40921].

The operation, which former President Donald Trump described as a "large-scale strike," took place overnight and involved airstrikes on military targets in Caracas and other areas [40942][41088][40921]. The couple was flown out of the country and now faces criminal charges in a New York court, including accusations of "narco-terrorism" and drug trafficking [40942][40970][41136].

In the hours following the capture, Trump announced that the United States would temporarily "run" Venezuela to "fix" its oil infrastructure [41227][41525]. He stated the goal is to "take back the oil" from the country, which holds the world's largest proven oil reserves but has seen its production collapse due to years of mismanagement [41227][40871]. "American dominance in the western hemisphere will never be questioned again," Trump said [41525].

The seizure creates an immediate power vacuum. No successor has been named, and it remains unclear who is currently governing the country [41136][40970]. Trump suggested that Maduro's deputy, Delcy Rodríguez, should follow U.S. orders as interim president, but she has so far defied the directive [41525].

The operation was launched days after Maduro publicly sought negotiations with the U.S., and it has sparked immediate condemnation from international legal experts who question its legality under international law [40942][41525]. The Venezuelan government has not yet issued a public statement [40505][40970].