US President Donald Trump on Saturday claimed that American forces had captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro following what he described as a large-scale military operation carried out overnight in Venezuela.
Trump made the claim in a post on his Truth Social platform, shortly after explosions were reported in Caracas, the Venezuelan capital, in the early hours of Saturday.
According to the US president, Maduro and his wife were taken into custody and flown out of Venezuela after the operation, though no independent confirmation has been provided by Venezuelan authorities.
Meanwhile, the Venezuelan government accused the United States of carrying out what it described as a grave military aggression against its territory and people.
Authorities in Caracas said the attack came after months of rising military and economic pressure from Washington, but did not confirm the whereabouts of Maduro, who has been in power since 2013.
Reports from journalists in the city said loud explosions and helicopter sounds were heard around 2:00 a.m. local time, with blasts lasting close to an hour across several parts of the capital.
Trump announced that he would address the media later in the day from his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida, where he is currently on vacation.
In a brief telephone interview with The New York Times, the US president praised the operation, describing it as well planned and executed by American forces.
Military sources said major targets of the strikes included Fuerte Tiuna, Venezuela’s largest military base in southern Caracas, and the La Carlota airbase in the northern part of the city.
Eyewitnesses reported seeing flames and thick smoke rising from Fuerte Tiuna, while explosions were also heard in La Guaira, a coastal area housing the country’s main airport and seaport.
A resident of La Guaira, Maria Eugenia Escobar, said the explosions were so intense that they shook her home and left many residents in fear.
Following the attack, the Venezuelan government announced a state of emergency and accused the US of targeting civilian areas, a claim denied by Washington.
The country’s defence ministry said it had ordered a large-scale deployment of military resources across affected areas.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro called for an emergency meeting of the United Nations and announced the deployment of troops along Colombia’s border with Venezuela.
As the situation unfolded, residents of Caracas said many people rushed to safer areas, while others prepared emergency bags with essential documents and supplies.
Videos circulating on social media showed helicopters flying over the city at night, while residents reported power outages in some neighbourhoods.
A Caracas resident, Francis Pena, said he was woken by his partner after hearing aircraft overhead and immediately began preparing to leave their home if necessary.
The US president has in recent weeks increased military pressure on Venezuela, deploying naval assets to the Caribbean under what was initially described as an anti-drug operation.
Earlier this week, Trump suggested that Maduro should step aside, alleging electoral irregularities in Venezuela’s 2024 presidential election.
Washington has repeatedly accused Maduro of leading a drug trafficking network, an allegation the Venezuelan leader has denied.
Venezuelan authorities have insisted that US actions are aimed at forcing regime change, citing the country’s vast oil reserves as a major motivation.
In recent months, the US government has also tightened sanctions, seized Venezuelan oil shipments and restricted air and maritime access linked to the country.
US military officials said operations targeting suspected drug smuggling routes in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific have resulted in multiple strikes since September.
According to US sources, more than 100 people have been killed in those operations.
