Washington/Caracas: International politics witnessed a dramatic escalation after US President Donald Trump claimed that the United States Air Force carried out air strikes on Caracas, the capital of Venezuela, and that Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife were taken into custody by US forces.
In a post on his social media platform Truth Social on Saturday, Trump stated that the US military had conducted “successful large-scale strikes” targeting Venezuela. He claimed that President Maduro, whom he referred to as a dictator, and his wife were apprehended and moved out of the country. Trump said the operation was carried out with the support of US law enforcement agencies and added that further details would be shared during a media briefing at Mar-a-Lago in Florida.
Reports from Caracas said that around 2 am on Saturday, residents heard at least seven loud explosions across the city. Thick smoke was seen rising from key military installations, including the La Carlota air base and the Fuerte Tiuna military complex. In response to the developments, the Venezuelan government declared a state of emergency and urged citizens to take to the streets to protest what it described as an “imperialist attack.”
Esto lo acaba de decir Donald Trump: "Estados Unidos ha llevado a cabo con éxito un ataque a gran escala contra Venezuela y su líder, el presidente Nicolás Maduro, quien fue capturado y trasladado en avión, junto con su esposa, fuera del país" pic.twitter.com/JfN3tEYDlw
— Geopolítica con Emiliano (@GeopoliticaELS) January 3, 2026
The developments come amid months of heightened tensions between the US and Venezuela. The Trump administration has repeatedly accused the Maduro government of involvement in international drug trafficking and other criminal activities. In recent months, Washington had increased diplomatic and strategic pressure on Caracas, including restrictions on Venezuelan airspace.
The reported military action has sharply raised tensions in South America, with regional and international observers closely monitoring the situation. Official confirmation from the Venezuelan government and independent agencies on the claims is awaited, even as the situation continues to evolve.