US President Donald Trump announced on Saturday that his country had launched a large-scale operation against Venezuela, resulting in the arrest of its president, Nicolás Maduro, and his wife, and their removal from the country.
In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump claimed responsibility for the attacks that took place in Venezuelan cities earlier on Saturday.
Trump stated that the operation to capture Maduro was carried out in coordination with US law enforcement agencies.
Trump Announces Arrest of Maduro and His Wif
Trump explained that he would hold a press conference at his residence in Florida at 11:00 AM local time (4:00 PM GMT).
#venezuelalibre #Venezuela #Bombardeo #Bombing !!! Dios Libre al Pueblo Venezolano 🇻🇪 🙏🏽 pic.twitter.com/ByuqxiFBl0
— Jef Jef 12345 (@12345_jef) January 3, 2026
Earlier on Saturday, explosions rocked Caracas and other Venezuelan cities, coinciding with low-flying warplanes.
US media outlets quoted officials in President Donald Trump's administration as saying that he had ordered strikes on several targets in Venezuela, including military installations.
These developments come amid escalating tensions between the United States and Venezuela, following Trump's executive order last August authorizing increased military deployments under the pretext of "combating drug cartels" in Latin America.
In this context, Washington announced the deployment of warships and a submarine to the Venezuelan coast, while US Secretary of Defense Pete Higseth stated that the military is prepared for operations, including regime change in Venezuela.
In response, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro announced the mobilization of 4.5 million troops in his country, ready to repel any potential attack.
Read more: