CARACAS / MARACAIBO — January 3, 2026
Former U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed early Saturday that the United States carried out a large-scale military operation in Venezuela, resulting in the detention of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife.
In a post on the social media platform Truth Social, Trump said the operation was “successful” and that Maduro and his wife were captured and removed from the country. He added that the mission was conducted in coordination with U.S. law enforcement authorities.
According to Trump, a press conference is scheduled to take place in Maracaibo at 11:00 a.m. local time on Saturday.
Residents in Venezuela’s capital, Caracas, reported hearing at least seven explosions in the early hours of Saturday morning. Witnesses also observed military aircraft flying at low altitude over the city around 2:00 a.m. local time.
Helicopters seen operating over Caracas were identified as belonging to the U.S. Army’s 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, commonly known as the “Night Stalkers,” a unit specialized in covert and high-risk missions.
The Venezuelan government said in a statement that both civilian and military locations in Caracas, as well as in the neighboring states of Miranda, Aragua, and La Guaira, were affected by the operation.
U.S. authorities have not yet released additional details regarding the circumstances of the detention or the current legal status of Maduro and his family. Trump stated that Maduro and his household are now in the custody of U.S. justice authorities.
The situation remains fluid, with international reaction and further official statements expected later Saturday.