The United States has conducted a major military operation against Venezuela, involving airstrikes and other strikes on targets in Caracas and across northern Venezuela in the early hours of 3 January 2026, President Donald Trump said. Explosions were reported in Venezuela’s capital and military installations, and power outages were seen in parts of the city.
Trump announced that Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were captured by US forces and removed from the country. The operation reportedly involved elite units and was carried out in coordination with US law enforcement. Maduro and Flores are being transported by US forces and are expected to face criminal charges in the United States.
Charges and legal claims
US Attorney General Pam Bondi confirmed that President Maduro has been indicted in New York on a range of alleged offences, including narco-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine importation conspiracy, and weapons charges. Bondi said he and his wife will “face the full wrath of American justice on American soil in American courts.”
The legal basis cited by US officials derives from a long-standing 2020 indictment and a later demand for arrest and extradition tied to narcotics and organised crime allegations.
Venezuelan government response and crisis declaration
Venezuela’s government has condemned the strikes as “military aggression” and declared a national emergency. Officials have denounced the US action as a violation of sovereignty and demanded proof of life regarding Maduro and Flores. Vice President Delcy Rodríguez and Defence Minister Vladimir Padrino López have called for unity and resistance.
International reaction
World leaders and regional governments have reacted strongly. Several Latin American states, including Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, Russia, and Iran, condemned the US operation, calling for respect for sovereignty and international law. Others, including Argentine President Javier Milei, publicly supported the capture. The European Union emphasised the importance of legal norms and international order even while noting concerns about Maduro’s governance.
Context and escalation
This operation represents an unprecedented escalation in US–Venezuela tensions, following months of pressure that included sanctions, military deployments, and a heightened US focus on alleged links between Venezuelean officials and international narcotics trafficking. Prior US actions in the region have included interdictions of vessels and operations claiming to target narco-trafficking networks.
What’s next
The situation remains dynamic. US officials suggest no immediate further strikes are planned while Maduro is in custody and preparations for legal proceedings are underway. Venezuelan authorities have warned of further instability, and international diplomacy is expected to intensify as the world reacts to the extraordinary cross-border operation and its implications for regional security.
![A worker checks labelling of bottles of beer at the production line of Dutch brewer Heineken factory on June 7, 2011 in Schiltigheim, eastern France, during an official visit announcing the group's goals for sustainable development, by reducing the amount of glass in some beer bottles' production, and lowering by 20 percent the energy needed at its Alsacian factory. [Photo by PATRICK HERTZOG/AFP via Getty Images]](https://myvirgo.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/heineken-plant-150x150.jpeg)
