U.S. Claims Capture of Venezuelan Leader After Military Raid

A U.S. military operation has captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, according to former Vice President Mike Pence. Pence credited the administration of former President Donald Trump with authorizing the raid. He stated the action ended "decades of socialist tyranny" in Venezuela. The former vice president also praised the role of the U.S. armed forces in the mission. He said the operation has created a new chance for freedom in the country. Venezuela has been in a political and economic crisis for years. The U.S. and many other nations had previously recognized opposition leader Juan Guaidó as the country's legitimate president, calling Maduro's rule illegitimate. There has been no immediate independent confirmation of Maduro's capture from the region. The situation in Venezuela's capital, Caracas, remains unclear.