U.S. President Donald Trump said Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has been captured and removed from Venezuela following a large-scale U.S. military strike on the capital, Caracas.
In a post on social media, Trump said Maduro was flown out of the country after the operation. He added that further details would be shared during a news conference scheduled for 11 a.m. Eastern Time.
U.S. officials outline legal case
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi said Maduro has been indicted in New York on drug trafficking and weapons-related charges. She did not provide details on when the indictment was filed or how soon court proceedings could begin.
Earlier, Secretary of State Marco Rubio told a Republican senator that Maduro would face trial in the United States. Rubio said he did not expect additional military action beyond the reported operation.
Venezuela reports uncertainty and casualties
Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez said the government does not know the whereabouts of Maduro or First Lady Cilia Flores. She described the situation as unclear and accused the United States of carrying out a deadly attack.
Rodríguez said the strikes resulted in deaths among government officials, members of the military, and civilians across several areas of the country. She did not provide casualty figures.
Conflicting claims and rising tensions
The developments have sharply escalated tensions between Washington and Caracas. U.S. authorities have not released independent verification of Maduro’s capture, while Venezuelan officials have rejected U.S. statements as disinformation.
There has been no immediate confirmation from international organizations or independent observers regarding the claims made by either side.
The situation remains fluid as governments and diplomatic missions worldwide await further clarification from U.S. officials and developments on the ground in Venezuela.
