U.S. Forces Capture Maduro in Bold Caracas Raid

Published on: January 3, 2026

U.S. Forces Capture Maduro in Bold Caracas Raid

In a stunning escalation of foreign policy, U.S. President Donald Trump announced today, January 3, 2026, that elite American special operations forces have captured Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and First Lady Cilia Flores.

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The mission, dubbed “Operation Southern Spear,” marks the first time a sitting head of state in the Western Hemisphere has been forcibly removed by U.S. military action since the 1989 invasion of Panama.

Table of Contents

Timeline of the Incursion

02:00 Local Time: Precision strikes hit strategic communication hubs and military installations at Fuerte Tiuna and La Carlota.
The Raid: Members of the Delta Force reportedly breached the presidential residence. Reports indicate a brief but intense firefight before Maduro and Flores were secured.
Extraction: By dawn, the U.S. administration confirmed the pair had been flown to an undisclosed location outside of Venezuela to await trial.

The Legal Basis

The U.S. Department of Justice has long held sealed indictments against Maduro for narco-terrorism and corruption. Washington officials state this operation was a “law enforcement action” intended to dismantle what they describe as a “criminal enterprise” masquerading as a government.

Global and Domestic Reactions

Entity	Stance	Official Statement Summary
White House	Pro-Action	“A major victory against narco-terrorism and for the freedom of the Venezuelan people.”
Caracas (Interim)	Condemnation	Vice President Delcy Rodríguez declared a State of Emergency, calling the raid a “kidnapping.”
Russia & Iran	Hostile	Both nations condemned the move as a flagrant violation of sovereignty and international law.
UN Security Council	Neutral/Concerned	Emergency sessions have been called by Colombia and Brazil to prevent a regional power vacuum.