U.S. strikes Venezuela, Trump claims Maduro captured

By Wellington Jopelo

The United States has carried out a major military operation inside Venezuela after President Donald Trump authorised air and naval strikes on key locations linked to the government of President Nicolás Maduro. U.S. officials said the operation targeted military facilities as part of a broader campaign against the Venezuelan regime.

Following the strikes, President Trump announced that Maduro and his wife had been captured during the operation and flown out of Venezuela. In a social media post, Trump described the action as a “large scale strike” and said it was successfully executed by the United States.

Trump also revealed that U.S. law enforcement agencies took part in the operation, although he did not name the specific agencies involved or explain how the arrests were carried out.

The military action comes after months of increased U.S. military presence in the region. The United States had earlier deployed the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford and several other warships to the Caribbean, signalling readiness for possible military engagement.

In recent weeks, the U.S. stepped up operations near Venezuela by seizing two oil tankers and carrying out strikes on more than 30 boats. The Trump administration said the vessels were being used to transport illegal drugs.

The U.S. also attacked dock areas in Venezuela that Trump claimed were being used to load drugs onto boats bound for international trafficking routes.

Washington has repeatedly accused Maduro of involvement in drug trafficking and of working with criminal gangs designated as terrorist organisations. The Venezuelan leader has consistently denied all the allegations.

Maduro was indicted in a U.S. court in 2020 on charges related to narcoterrorism, further worsening relations between the two countries.

Earlier, on Christmas Eve, President Trump declined to clearly state his ultimate objective but warned that there would be serious consequences if Maduro continued to resist U.S. pressure.

Trump has announced that more details about the military operation and Maduro’s reported capture will be shared at a press conference scheduled for 11 a.m. ET at Mar-a-Lago, as global attention remains focused on developments in Venezuela.

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