The United States executed an overnight military operation in Venezuela that reportedly led to the capture of President Nicolás Maduro, U.S. President Donald Trump announced early on Saturday, January 3. This intervention marks one of the most significant U.S. military actions in foreign affairs in decades.
In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump stated that American forces conducted a large-scale strike that resulted in the arrest of Maduro and his wife, both of whom were subsequently extracted from the country. He mentioned that U.S. law enforcement agencies participated in the operation, with more details expected to emerge at a press conference planned at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida.
If confirmed, this action would be the first direct U.S. military intervention in Latin America since the 1989 invasion of Panama, which ousted military ruler Manuel Noriega, also justified by claims of drug trafficking and unlawful governance.
A U.S. official quoted by Reuters indicated that Maduro was captured by elite special forces during the raid. However, Venezuelan officials have yet to acknowledge his capture or departure from the country.
Venezuela’s Defense Minister, Vladimir Padrino, responded defiantly, condemning what he labeled as the presence of foreign troops on Venezuelan soil. In a televised speech, Padrino accused the United States of responsible for “death, pain, and destruction,” urging citizens to unite in defense of their nation’s sovereignty.
The U.S. has long accused Maduro of turning Venezuela into a “narco-state” and manipulating the previous year’s presidential election, which the opposition asserts it won convincingly. Maduro, who assumed office in 2013 after Hugo Chávez’s death, has dismissed these allegations, claiming that Washington’s ultimate goal is to control Venezuela’s vast oil reserves, which are the largest proven reserves in the world.
While several Latin American governments have voiced criticism of Maduro’s administration and questioned the legitimacy of the upcoming 2024 election, direct U.S. military involvement risks reigniting historical regional resentments tied to past American interventions. Historically, such military actions have faced widespread opposition throughout Latin America, even among nations that are typically hostile toward Caracas.
Original Source: https://www.guwahatiplus.com/international/us-launches-military-strikes-on-venezuela-trump-claims-capture-of-president-maduro-wife
Category: International
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Publish Date: 2026-01-03 20:14:00
