U.S. Invades Venezuela; Kidnaps Maduro, Wife

U.S. President Donald Trump said American forces carried out a “large scale strike against Venezuela” and captured President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, flying them out of the country in an operation conducted with U.S. law enforcement.

In a Truth Social post, Trump said details would follow and announced a news conference at 11 a.m. at Mar-a-Lago, without disclosing how Maduro was seized or where he was taken. The U.S. had previously offered a $50 million reward for information leading to Maduro’s arrest.

Attorney General Pam Bondi said Maduro and Flores have been indicted in New York on drugs and weapons charges, including narco-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine importation conspiracy, and weapons-related offenses, and would “face the full wrath of American justice on American soil in American courts.”

Explosions were reported across Caracas, with witnesses describing multiple low-flying aircraft and large plumes of smoke rising over the capital. Venezuela accused the U.S. of striking civilian and military installations. The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration imposed a ban on U.S. commercial flights in Venezuelan airspace due to “ongoing military activity.”

The operation follows weeks of heightened tension and what officials describe as the largest U.S. military buildup in the Americas since the Cold War, including airstrikes on vessels alleged to be carrying drugs, the seizure of sanctioned oil tankers, and earlier land operations believed to have occurred in Venezuela’s oil-rich Zulia state.

Venezuela’s Response

Venezuela declared a national emergency. Defence Minister Vladimir Padrino López announced the immediate nationwide deployment of armed forces, calling the attack “the worst aggression” against the country and saying all forces were acting under “Maduro’s orders.” “They’ve attacked us but they will not subdue us,” he said.

Vice President Delcy Rodríguez said the government did not know the whereabouts of Maduro or the first lady and demanded “immediate proof of life.” U.S. officials told CBS News that Delta Force carried out the capture. Delta Force is the U.S. military’s top counterterrorism unit.

"No Authorization from Congress": U.S. Lawmakers

Democratic lawmakers said the strikes were illegal without congressional authorization.

Congressman Jim McGovern called the action unjustified. “Without authorization from Congress, and with the vast majority of Americans opposed to military action, Trump just launched an unjustified, illegal strike on Venezuela. He says we don’t have enough money for healthcare for Americans—but somehow we have unlimited funds for war??,” he said in a social media post.

Representative Melanie Stansbury said the president lacks authority to declare war or conduct large-scale military operations without Congress. “Congress must act to rein him in. Immediately,” she said.

International reaction was swift. Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva condemned the U.S. action as crossing “an unacceptable line,” calling it a grave affront to Venezuela’s sovereignty and warning of a potential humanitarian catastrophe, while offering mediation.

Russia Condemns U.S. Invasion

Russia’s Foreign Ministry said the U.S. had committed armed aggression, urged de-escalation and dialogue, backed calls for an urgent UN Security Council meeting, and said its embassy in Caracas was operating normally with no reports of Russian citizens injured.

“The pretexts used to justify these actions are untenable. Venezuela must be guaranteed the right to determine its own destiny, free from any destructive – let alone military – external interference,” the ministry said.

European Commission Supports "Peaceful Transition"

The European Commission said it was closely monitoring the situation, supporting a peaceful and democratic transition in Venezuela, stressing respect for international law and the UN Charter, and coordinating support for EU citizens in the country.

“Following very closely the situation in Venezuela. We stand by the people of Venezuela and support a peaceful and democratic transition. Any solution must respect international law and the UN Charter. With Kaja Kallas, Vice-President of the European Commission, and in coordination with EU Member States, we are making sure that EU citizens in the country can count on our full support,” Ursula von der Leyen, President of the EU Commission, said.