The United States has announced a dramatic escalation in its confrontation with Venezuela, claiming that President Nicolás Maduro was captured following coordinated missile strikes on key targets inside the country, a move that has sent shockwaves across Latin America and beyond.
According to statements attributed to U.S. President Donald Trump, American forces carried out what he described as precision military operations against strategic installations linked to the Venezuelan government.
Shortly after the strikes, Trump said Maduro was detained by U.S. operatives and removed from Venezuelan territory, although full operational details were not disclosed.
Meanwhile, reports from Caracas indicated loud explosions, temporary power outages, and the presence of military aircraft over parts of the capital, fueling public anxiety and uncertainty.
Venezuelan state media acknowledged attacks on military facilities but did not confirm the fate or whereabouts of the president, instead accusing Washington of violating the country’s sovereignty.
Reacting to the development, Venezuelan officials condemned the action as an act of aggression and announced emergency measures, urging citizens to remain calm while security forces assessed the situation.
A senior government figure said the country was facing “a direct assault on its independence,” while insisting that national institutions remained functional.
Furthermore, international reaction has been swift and cautious. Several governments in the region called for restraint, warning that the situation could destabilise an already volatile region.
Analysts noted that if confirmed, the capture of a sitting head of state by a foreign power would mark an unprecedented moment in modern hemispheric relations.
However, independent verification of Maduro’s capture remains limited. Global news agencies reported that the claim is currently based on U.S. statements, with no confirmation from neutral international bodies.
As a result, observers say the coming hours will be critical in determining whether diplomacy or further confrontation will define the next phase of the crisis.
Hence, while Washington portrays the operation as a decisive intervention, the unfolding events raise serious legal, political, and humanitarian questions, with potential consequences extending far beyond Venezuela’s borders.