DefenseUS launches military strike in Venezuela, captures President Nicolás Maduro
The United States conducted military operations in Venezuela and captured President Nicolás Maduro, who was flown out of the country on Saturday, according to US President Donald Trump. The intervention involved direct action in Venezuelan territory and the removal of the country’s head of state.
US military forces initiated large-scale strikes targeting Venezuelan bases, port facilities, and communication towers following a buildup of assets in the US Southern Command region. The involvement of the carrier strike group USS Gerald R. Ford and the amphibious readiness group Iwo Jima was confirmed in operational reports.
Videos shared on social media show several helicopters flying over the capital, Caracas, but the authenticity of the images could not be confirmed.
“The United States of America has successfully carried out a large scale strike against Venezuela and its leader, President Nicolas Maduro, who has been, along with his wife, captured and flown out of the country,” said Donald Trump, President of the United States.
The Venezuelan government did not immediately confirm Maduro’s capture but issued a statement urging social and political groups to mobilize in response to the US action. “The Bolivarian Government calls on all social and political forces in the country to activate mobilization plans and repudiate this imperialist attack,” stated the Bolivarian Government.
The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a Notice to Air Missions (NOTAM) closing Venezuelan airspace to all commercial airlines and civil aircraft due to ongoing military operations. This restriction affects all overflight and destination traffic in the region.
The last direct US military intervention in Latin America occurred with the invasion of Panama in 1989. Venezuela’s airspace has previously seen limited restrictions, but a full closure by the FAA underscores the operational scale and aviation risk profile of the current situation.
Venezuela operates a mixed fleet, including Russian-made Sukhoi Su-30MK2 fighters and older F-16s, but the current status of the aircraft is unknown.
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