On January 3, 2026, US Military Strikes Venezuela operations were executed targeting crucial places like military and infrastructure in Caracas and other areas of Venezuela. The early morning hours around the operation were filled with explosions as residents reported hearing loud blasts during the US strikes Venezuela 2026 operation and seeing low-flying aircraft during what many later referred to as the Venezuela conflict 2026.
President Donald Trump confirmed the strikes and announced via social media that Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were captured during the operation and flown out of the country. Trump described the action as a successful mission and said further details would be shared in an upcoming press conference at his Florida residence, marking a major moment in US Venezuela news today.
According to U.S. officials, elements of the Army’s elite Delta Force carried out the capture, the same unit known for previous high-profile operations abroad. Maduro has long been wanted by U.S. authorities, Maduro has long been wanted by U.S. authorities, adding fuel to growing discussions about Maduro arrest charges US, along with accusations of narco-terrorism and drug trafficking.
The US Military Strikes Venezuela were a dramatic escalation in the conflict between the US and Venezuela. The US had been applying more pressure to the government of Maduro through military presence in the Caribbean and attacks on ships believed to be carrying drugs.
The US did not only conduct air and naval operations focusing on possible routes and places for organized crime to operate but also brought up the issue of US-Venezuela relations.
In the wake of the US Military Strikes Venezuela, the government responded by declaring a state of emergency and condemning the U.S. action as “military aggression.” The government called on its supporters to mobilize in the streets and reject what it described as an imperialist attack on Venezuelan sovereignty. Officials said the strikes hit both civilian and military targets and vowed to defend the country while warning about ongoing US Venezuela conflict risks.
In the hours after the strike, Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez demanded immediate proof that Maduro and his wife were alive and disclosed their location. The government raised alarm over the lack of information surrounding the Nicolas Maduro US military operation, deepening uncertainty and fear among citizens watching developments tied to the Nicolas Maduro US military operation.
The global response to the US Military Strikes Venezuela was immediate and very different among the countries involved. The U.S. actions were portrayed by Russia and Iran as a breach of Venezuela’s land and rights and both countries asked for self-control. The European countries pointed out that the military actions should be carried out according to international law and cautioned against the escalation of the situation.
The bordering nations, especially Colombia, raised their voices in protest and stated that they were very concerned about the stability of the area and the lives of people who live close to the border, showing the depth of the international reaction US strikes Venezuela.
Inside the United States, there were different, mixed reactions from the political circles. On one hand, some members of the Congress welcomed the military operation as a long-running attempt to make the Venezuelan dictator accountable and on the other hand, some critics debated the legality of the military operations that were conducted without the Congress giving explicit approval. One senator from the Democratic Party did not hesitate to criticize the military actions and branded them as illegal, raising a red flag about the limits of executive power regarding military deployment abroad and broader questions about US military involvement in Latin America.
The footprint of the U.S. military strikes was so enormous that the Federal Aviation Administration had to implement a prohibition on all U.S. commercial flights over Venezuelan airspace due to the safety concerns relating to military actions. During this process, U.S. nationals in Venezuela were recommended to stay in their places as Caracas explosions military strike reports continued.
The US Military Strikes Venezuela incident marks a significant change in the U.S. relations with Venezuela and has far-reaching consequences for the international security and diplomatic efforts in the region. Global leaders and human rights organizations have started to keep a close watch as the world is responding to a military action that might change the geopolitical landscape in the Americas and shape future US national security Venezuela strikes discussions.
