KUALA LUMPUR – The United States launched a significant strike on Venezuela, capturing President Nicolás Maduro and removing him from the country, U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed on Saturday.
In response to aerial attacks on the capital, Caracas, President Maduro declared a state of emergency. According to Qatar News Agency (QNA), the Venezuelan government explained that the declaration was made to protect the nation’s sovereignty.
The Venezuelan government stated that both the armed forces and popular forces were mobilised to safeguard the country’s territorial integrity and maintain order.
Trump, meanwhile, stated that Maduro and his wife had been captured and flown out of Venezuela following the U.S. strike. He shared the news on the Truth Social platform, emphasising that the operation was carried out in collaboration with U.S. law enforcement.
“The United States of America has successfully carried out a large-scale strike against Venezuela and its leader, President Nicolás Maduro, who has been, along with his wife, captured and flown out of the country,” Trump said. He added that a press conference would follow.
This marks the first such direct U.S. military intervention in Latin America since the 1989 invasion of Panama, which saw the ousting of military leader Manuel Noriega.
The Venezuelan government has yet to issue a formal response. The U.S. has long accused Maduro of running a “narco-state” and rigging elections. Maduro, who succeeded Hugo Chávez in 2013, has frequently claimed that Washington’s interests lie in seizing Venezuela’s vast oil reserves, the largest in the world. – January 3, 2026