President Donald Trump has announced in a Truth Social post that the US carried out an attack in Venezuela and that President Nicolás Maduro and his wife have been captured.
“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.”
Donald Trump
He disclosed that the operation was done in conjunction with US Law Enforcement, adding that details will follow at a news conference scheduled later today.
This came after several explosions and the sounds of aircraft early today in the Venezuelan capital Caracas, and reports that some areas of the city were without electricity.
At least seven explosions rang out and low-flying aircraft swept through the capital of Venezuela.
The cause of the explosions is unclear, but Trump has repeatedly warned that the US is preparing to take new action against alleged drug trafficking networks in Venezuela.
Trump’s pressure campaign on Maduro has included strikes destroying more than 30 boats in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean in what the US has described as a counter-narcotics campaign. Trump last month ordered a blockade of sanctioned oil tankers coming to and leaving Venezuela.
Venezuela’s government condemned what it said was a “very serious grave military aggression” by the US against multiple parts of the country after explosions were reported in the capital Caracas and other locations early today.
In a statement, the government accused the US of carrying out an attack on Caracas and the states of Miranda, Aragua and La Guaira.
The statement added that President Nicolás Maduro has signed a state of emergency and ordered all national defense plans to be implemented “at the appropriate time and under the appropriate circumstances.”
It also called on Venezuela’s social and political forces to mobilize and defend the country.“The people of Venezuela and their Bolivarian National Armed Forces, in perfect popular-military-police unity, are deployed to guarantee sovereignty and peace,” the statement read.
The statement said that Venezuela will also file complaints before the UN Security Council, the UN Secretary-General, and other international bodies, demanding the condemnation of the US.
Later, Venezuelan Defence Minister, Vladimir Padrino López said that the US attack impacted urban areas across Venezuela with missiles and rockets fired from American combat helicopters.
He said that Venezuela is currently gathering information about the number of people killed and wounded, and confirmed the Fort Tiuna military installation in Caracas was attacked.
Lopez insisted the country would resist the presence of foreign troops in the country. “This invasion represents the greatest outrage the country has suffered,” he added.
Colombia, Cuba Express Concern Over Situation In Venezuela
The Presidents of Colombia and Cuba expressed concern and condemnation over the situation taking place across Venezuela. “The Colombian Government rejects any unilateral military action that could aggravate the situation or put the civilian population at risk,” President Gustavo Petro wrote on X.
He added that his country is monitoring the situation in neighboring Venezuela with “deep concern,” and urged all involved parties to refrain from escalatory actions, without mentioning the US.
Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel slammed what he called a “criminal” attack by the US on Venezuela in a post on X.
He stressed that Cuba denounces and urgently demands the reaction of the international community against the criminal attack by the US on Venezuela, adding, “Our zone of peace is being brutally assaulted.”
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