CARACAS – President Donald Trump announced that the United States carried out a large-scale strike on Venezuela early Saturday, capturing President Nicolas Maduro and his wife and removing them from the country.
Trump shared the news on Truth Social, saying the operation was conducted with U.S. law enforcement and that further details would be provided at a press conference at Mar-a-Lago later on Saturday. There has been no confirmation from the Venezuelan government.
The strikes hit Caracas and other locations, including Higuerote on the northern coast, about 85 kilometres from the capital. Witnesses described multiple explosions and large fires, with parts of the city losing electricity. One resident told reporters the sky turned red, and neighbours ran into the streets as blasts shook buildings for hours. 
The United States has repeatedly accused Maduro of overseeing a “narco-state” and rigging elections, while Maduro has argued that Washington aims to control Venezuela’s oil reserves.
The strikes mark the most direct U.S. intervention in Latin America since the 1989 invasion of Panama to remove military leader Manuel Noriega.
Footage circulating on social media showed large fires and explosions at airports, with some witnesses describing damage consistent with strikes on air defence installations.
CNN reported that the first blast in Caracas occurred around 1:50 a.m. local time, followed by subsequent explosions across the city and surrounding regions.
