The US has captured Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro after a large scale strike on the South American country, US President Donald Trump has reported. Trump stated that Maduro and his wife were flown out of the country in a military operation in conjunction with US law enforcement, facing drug and weapon charges in New York.
Following explosions across Caracas early on Saturday morning, including at military bases, the Venezuelan government demanded proof of Maduro's life and declared a national emergency. The tensions have heightened with accusations of narcotic trafficking against Maduro's regime.
According to CBS, the Delta Force, a top US counter-terrorism unit, executed the capture. The operation was described by Trump as a brilliant operation he monitored live, with no US casualties reported and minor injuries.
Around 02:00 local time, loud blasts were reported, with videos surfacing on social media yet to be verified. Venezuelan authorities confirmed strikes hit military locations and civilian areas.
Trump has confirmed the US's role through social media, labelling the operation successful, while the Venezuelan government condemned the strikes, asserting a foreign threat to their national sovereignty. Opposition leaders in Venezuela have been outraged and contrasted the US actions with Maduro's longstanding governance issues, particularly regarding corruption and drug trafficking.
Maduro's wife, Cilia Flores, has also been accused alongside him, potentially impacting the future of Venezuelan politics significantly. Meanwhile, international reactions vary, with allies of Venezuela condemning the US's actions, while Trump supporters lauded the strike as a step towards political transformation in the region.
Following explosions across Caracas early on Saturday morning, including at military bases, the Venezuelan government demanded proof of Maduro's life and declared a national emergency. The tensions have heightened with accusations of narcotic trafficking against Maduro's regime.
According to CBS, the Delta Force, a top US counter-terrorism unit, executed the capture. The operation was described by Trump as a brilliant operation he monitored live, with no US casualties reported and minor injuries.
Around 02:00 local time, loud blasts were reported, with videos surfacing on social media yet to be verified. Venezuelan authorities confirmed strikes hit military locations and civilian areas.
Trump has confirmed the US's role through social media, labelling the operation successful, while the Venezuelan government condemned the strikes, asserting a foreign threat to their national sovereignty. Opposition leaders in Venezuela have been outraged and contrasted the US actions with Maduro's longstanding governance issues, particularly regarding corruption and drug trafficking.
Maduro's wife, Cilia Flores, has also been accused alongside him, potentially impacting the future of Venezuelan politics significantly. Meanwhile, international reactions vary, with allies of Venezuela condemning the US's actions, while Trump supporters lauded the strike as a step towards political transformation in the region.
