The United States on Saturday carried out a military operation in Venezuela, targeting a key army base and capturing President Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores, escalating the long-running Venezuela crisis to an unprecedented level.
US airstrikes in Venezuela: President Maduro held in custody, at least 40 killed | What we know so far
The United States on Saturday carried out a military operation in Venezuela, targeting a key army base and capturing President Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores, escalating the long-running Venezuela crisis to an unprecedented level.
Following the airstrikes, Maduro and Flores were flown from Caracas to New York City. The Venezuelan leader is now being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn. He is expected to face serious drug trafficking and weapons charges in a Manhattan federal court.
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Maduro is expected to appear before a federal judge in Manhattan, where prosecutors are likely to seek his continued detention pending trial. Meanwhile, Venezuela remains on edge as diplomatic tensions rise and the international community debates the legality and consequences of the US action.
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As per media reports, Venezuelan officials have said at least 40 people were killed in the strikes. This included civilians and members of the armed forces, raising concerns over the humanitarian impact of the operation.
US President Donald Trump confirmed the capture by releasing the first image of Maduro aboard the US warship USS Iwo Jima, posting on Truth Social: “Nicolas Maduro on board the USS Iwo Jima.” Also, the United States released a video earlier today showing Maduro in handcuffs, staging a ‘perp walk’ as he was escorted into custody.
#WATCH | Video shows Nicolás Maduro in custody after his arrest, escorted by federal agents as he arrives in the United States. Footage captures the former Venezuelan president being led off an aircraft in handcuffs amid escalating legal proceedings.#MaduroArrest… pic.x.com/e4EkRN7hb7
— The Statesman (@TheStatesmanLtd) January 4, 2026
Inside ‘Operation Absolute Resolve’
Senior US military officials said the mission, codenamed Operation Absolute Resolve, was the result of months of planning and coordination.
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Razin Caine described the operation as “discreet and precise,” stating that President Trump authorized the mission at 10:46 pm Eastern Time on Friday night.
More than 150 US aircraft, including bombers, fighter jets, surveillance planes and helicopters, were deployed. One aircraft sustained damage but remained operational, and all US assets returned safely.
According to Caine, Maduro and his wife, both already indicted in the US, surrendered and were taken into custody by the Department of Justice.
Soon after his arrival in New York, US federal prosecutors unsealed a sweeping indictment accusing Maduro of leading a narco-terrorism and cocaine trafficking network for over two decades.
US Attorney General Pam Bondi said the charges were filed in the Southern District of New York, alleging that Maduro used Venezuela’s military, intelligence, and law enforcement agencies to facilitate massive cocaine shipments toward the United States since 1999.
Maduro faces charges including narco-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine importation conspiracy, firearms offenses, and related crimes, which could carry life sentences if convicted.
The indictment names several high-profile co-accused, including Maduro’s wife Cilia Flores, his son Nicolas Ernesto Maduro Guerra, Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello Rondón, and former minister Ramon Rodriguez Chacín.
In Caracas, Venezuela’s Supreme Court appointed Vice President Delcy Rodriguez as Interim President, citing the need to maintain administrative continuity following Maduro’s “forced absence.”
The court said it would review legal mechanisms to ensure governance and national defence. Rodriguez, a close Maduro ally, accused the US of aggression and warned of attempts to seize Venezuela’s energy and mineral resources.
“There is only one president in this country, and his name is Nicolas Maduro,” she said in a defiant address.
President Trump, however, said the US had allowed Rodriguez to remain in place, claiming she was willing to cooperate to stabilize Venezuela.
The UN Security Council has announced it would hold an emergency meeting on Monday to discuss the US military operation.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed deep alarm, calling the action a “dangerous precedent” that could have far-reaching implications for international law and global stability.
World leaders reacted sharply to the US airstrikes and Maduro’s capture.
China strongly condemned the operation, calling it a violation of Venezuela’s sovereignty and international law. Russia urged Washington to release Maduro and his wife, describing them as Venezuela’s “legitimately elected leaders.”
In contrast, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised President Trump’s “bold and historic leadership.” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy made an indirect reference to Russian President Vladimir Putin, suggesting the operation sent a strong signal to authoritarian leaders.
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