US captures Venezuela’s leader and his wife in stunning operation and plans to prosecute them

Trump posted a photo on his Truth Social account that he said showed Maduro in custody, blindfolded and wearing sweatpants.

early morning attack

Multiple explosions were heard early on Saturday and low-flying planes headed towards the Venezuelan capital. Maduro’s government accused the United States of attacking civilian and military facilities, calling it an “imperialist attack” and calling on citizens to take to the streets.

The attack lasted less than 30 minutes and explosions (at least seven explosions) sent people into the streets while others reported what they saw and heard on social media. Vice President Delcy Rodríguez said some Venezuelan civilians and military members were killed, without giving figures. Trump said some US forces were injured in Venezuela, but none died.

“We think, we develop, we train, we rehearse, we debrief, we rehearse over and over again. Not to get it right, but to make sure we don’t get it wrong,” Chief of Staff Dan Caine said.

Video from Caracas and an unidentified coastal city showed trails and smoke blurring the landscape as repeated silent explosions lit up the night sky. Other images showed cars passing on the highway as explosions illuminated the hills behind them. The videos have been verified by the Associated Press.

While smoke rose from the hangar of a military base in Caracas, electricity was cut off at another military facility in the capital.

Venezuelan ruling party leader Nahum Fernández told The Associated Press that Maduro and Flores were at their home at the Fort Tiuna military base when they were captured. “They bombed the place,” he said. “And there they carried out what we might call the kidnapping of the president and the first lady of the country.” According to Venezuelan law, Rodriguez would take over from Maduro. Although Maduro and his wife made a statement after the attack demanding proof that they were alive, there was no confirmation about the incident.

The strike followed the Trump administration’s months-long pressure campaign against Venezuela’s leader, including a massive build-up of American forces in waters off South America and attacks on boats accused of transporting drugs in the eastern Pacific and Caribbean. Last week, the CIA was behind a drone strike on a docking area believed to be used by Venezuelan drug cartels; This was the first known direct operation on Venezuelan soil since the United States began attacks in September.

In a demonstration of what a polarizing figure Maduro is, people took to the streets in various ways to deplore and celebrate his capture.

At a protest in Venezuela’s capital, Caracas Mayor Carmen Meléndez joined the crowd demanding the return of Maduro.

Earlier, gunmen and uniformed members of civilian militias had taken to the streets of the Caracas neighborhood, long considered a stronghold of the ruling party. In other parts of the city, the streets remained empty after the attack and citizens absorbed the events. Some areas remained without electricity, but vehicles moved freely.

Legality questions

Loading

The Armed Services committees in both houses of Congress, which have jurisdiction over military matters, have not been notified of any action by the administration, according to a person familiar with the matter who was granted anonymity to discuss the matter.

Lawmakers from both political parties in Congress expressed deep reservations and openly objected to U.S. attacks on boats suspected of drug smuggling near the Venezuelan coast; Congress has not specifically approved an authorization for the use of military force for such operations in the region.

access point