U.S. Executes Military Operation in Venezuela, Captures President Nicolás Maduro

WASHINGTON — In a dramatic escalation of U.S. foreign policy, American forces launched a large-scale military operation in Venezuela early Saturday, striking multiple military targets and capturing Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. President Donald Trump announced Maduro’s capture via social media and said the U.S. would temporarily “run” Venezuela to oversee a transition to new leadership. The surprise, nighttime raid — involving airstrikes across Caracas and surrounding areas — culminated in Maduro and Flores being flown to New York, where they are expected to face federal narco-terrorism and drug trafficking charges. Critics in Congress have blasted the operation as lacking proper authorization, and international leaders have raised concerns about violations of international law.