US Under Trump's Orders To Conduct Military Operation In Venezuela

(Updated) Dictator Maduro is captured by the U.S. military and flown out of the country.

In the Venezuelan capital Caracas on the morning of Saturday, January 3, residents heard explosions and flying planes, as well as saw columns of smoke. The southern part of the city, particularly the area near a major military base, was left without power.

According to Reuters.

15.59

Official charges have been filed against Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Celia Flores. They are both charged with conspiracy to commit narco-terrorism.

The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi. The Southern District of New York handed down the indictment.

14.29

Marco Rubio: Maduro has been arrested by the U.S. military for trial.

Republican Senator Mike Lee said he spoke with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Rubio told him that Maduro had been arrested by the U.S. military for trial on criminal charges in the United States.

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Dictator Nicolas Maduro will be tried in the United States. Maduro "will finally face justice for his crimes." This was stated by US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau.

A new dawn for Venezuela! 🙏 The tyrant is gone. He will now-finally-face justice for his crimes. 🇺🇸🇻🇪 pic.twitter.com/oNhW6b9soh

- Christopher Landau (@DeputySecState) January 3, 2026

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The US says it has suffered no casualties in its military operation in Venezuela. The New York Times reported. "A U.S. spokesman said there were no American casualties in the operation, but declined to comment on Venezuelan casualties," the report said.

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Power in Venezuela is set to pass to Vice President Delcy Rodriguez. The New York Times writes that if U.S. President Donald Trump's claim about Maduro's capture is confirmed, the Venezuelan Constitution says power in the country should go to Vice President Delcy Rodriguez, who handles economic policy.

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Maduro was captured by Delta Force, an elite special operations unit of the U.S. military. This is according to a CBS News source.

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U.S. President Donald Trump has announced that as a result of an operation by U.S. forces in Caracas, Venezuelan ruler Nicolas Maduro and his wife have been captured and airlifted out of the country.

12.20

CBS News and Fox News, citing Donald Trump administration officials, confirmed the information about U.S. military strikes on Caracas. Reuters also cited an unnamed U.S. official as saying the U.S. was behind the strikes.

The United States has not yet issued an official comment. The White House will release a statement on Venezuela after the U.S. military leaves its airspace, The Wall Street Journal reported.

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The United States struck the Museum of the Revolution in Caracas, which houses Hugo Chavez's mausoleum.

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The New York Times reports on Maduro's "disappearance." The whereabouts of Venezuelan ruler Nicolas Maduro are unknown at this time.

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Video has emerged of U.S. attack helicopters conducting heavy strikes on targets in Venezuela.

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Social media reported that Maduro had been evacuated from Milaflores Palace, the official residence.

🇻🇪🇻🇪 - ⚠️ URGENT: Local media warn that the leader of Venezuela's regime, Nicolás Maduro, is being evacuated from the Miraflores Palace, the seat of government in Caracas. #FreeVenezuela

- Brandon Larson (@MrBrandonLarson) January 3, 2026

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The streets of Venezuela's capital have become chaotic. Residents are trying to flee Caracas in cars, which has seen at least 7 explosions today.

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The US Air Force attacked the personal home of Venezuela's defense minister in Caracas, local media reported.

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U.S. President Donald Trump has ordered strikes on targets inside Venezuela, including military installations, CBS News journalist Jennifer Jacobs wrote, citing statements from U.S. officials.

Venezuela's dictator Maduro has signed a decree declaring a state of emergency over the attack on the country.

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Silitary forces are driving people away from Maduro's residence and important facilities. Panic has broken out in Caracas, with people trying to leave.

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There is preliminary information that a US paratrooper has landed in Caracas.

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Video shows powerful secondary explosions after a U.S. airstrike near Iguerote airport, Miranda state, Venezuela.

10.30

Venezuelan armored vehicles have appeared on the streets of Caracas and are pulling up to the presidential palace.

CBS News writes that Trump administration officials said they are aware of reports of explosions in Venezuela and helicopters over Caracas.

The New York Times reports that a U.S. military spokeswoman in Washington confirmed reports of the bombings but declined to comment on America's possible role in it.

In the meantime, footage of strikes on Caracas, likely by Tomahawk missiles, is circulating online.

The Sky News Arabia channel says the residence of Venezuela's defense minister and a port in the capital were targeted.

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U.S. Chinook helicopters were also spotted over Caracas. "These could be U.S. strikes," Clash Report writes.

According to the Associated Press, at least seven explosions were heard in the city.

Bloomberg writes that Caracas residents reported loud explosions and planes flying over the city, causing power outages in many neighborhoods. Gunshots were also heard in several areas of the city.

Videos circulating on social media showed flashes and columns of smoke in several places in Venezuela's capital, while explosions were so strong that windows shook and caused brief power outages in neighborhoods such as the 23rd district of Enero and near La Carlota airbase. Power was lost in the south of the city, where a major military base is located.

The targets could be military installations such as La Carlota or near the Miraflores Palace, with explosions seen in at least six locations.

Media reports say the US is striking the port of Caracas and Margarita Island in the Caribbean Sea, where many military installations are stationed.

The Clash Report writes that the strikes hit the south of the city, the Fort Tiuna neighborhood and the airbase of Generalissimo Francisco de Miranda. Also under attack hit the naval base of La Guaira in the state of Vargas in the north of the country - there is a fleet academy.

The network is also spreading videos on which spotted American landing helicopters. In turn, the Venezuelan Air Force has put Su-30MKV fighter jets on alert - they were sent to intercept American planes and helicopters.

Reuters reports that American helicopters that "attacked at least ten objects".

According to CNN, the first explosion was recorded at about 1:50 a.m. local time. Several areas of the city were de-energized, and CNN journalists in the Venezuelan capital could hear the sounds of planes after the explosions.

One video obtained and verified by CNN shows two puffs of smoke rising into the night sky amid city lights. An orange glow can be seen at the base of one of the plumes. A flash is then briefly seen elsewhere, followed by a deafening rumble.

Venezuelan news agencies Efecto Cocuyo and Tal Cual Digital said explosions were also heard in La Guaira state, north of Caracas, and in Iguerote, a coastal city in Miranda state.

Unconfirmed reports said U.S. troops were landing in Caracas.

U.S. President Donald Trump has previously repeatedly said he is ready to use a ground operation in Venezuela to force the country's President Nicolas Maduro from office.

Among the tools of pressure, Washington has considered expanding sanctions, strengthening the U.S. military presence in the region, as well as conducting strikes against ships that the U.S. side claims are involved in drug trafficking in the Pacific and Caribbean.

The Pentagon had no immediate comment on the events in Caracas.

U.S.-Venezuela conflict

On December 16, U.S. President Donald Trump announced a complete blockade of under-sanctioned oil tankers entering or leaving Venezuelan waters.

In this move, the U.S. administration seeks to cut off key sources of funding for Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's regime.

In recent weeks, the US military has intercepted two oil tankers, while a third vessel pursued by US forces turned away from Venezuelan waters and disappeared into the Atlantic Ocean.

Caracas a las 2 de la Mañana #Caracas #venezuela pic.twitter.com/jh8URRlIvy

- David (@anthonyseijas2) January 3, 2026

Footage showing a series of US airstrikes on Caracas https://t.co/r8FW1q3Kd1 pic.twitter.com/OQOQws7peQ

- AMK Mapping 🇳🇿 (@AMK_Mapping_) January 3, 2026

bombardeo en Caracas, Venezuela Cae Nicolás Maduro, sígueme para estar más informado. #caracas #venezuela #maduro pic.twitter.com/UCfnAejbI5

- Sebas 🦇 (@juniorhhjr) January 3, 2026

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