Dramatic new images from Venezuela depict the moment US forces executed a swift and explosive operation to extract Nicolas Maduro, the authoritarian Venezuelan President who has been a target of the Trump administration. The operation, described by President Trump as a “large-scale strike,” caused explosions in parts of Caracas as soldiers descended on the capital city, triggering panic among locals.
While Trump has not directly commented on the operation outside of his social media platform Truth Social, he is scheduled to make a public statement later today. Reports from top Venezuelan officials shed light on the details of the operation, revealing that Maduro and his wife were captured and flown out of the country. Maduro has subsequently been indicted in the Southern District of New York on charges related to drugs trafficking and firearms.
Venezuelan Attorney General Tarek William Saab condemned the US strikes, labeling them as a “terrorist attack” that resulted in casualties. Visual evidence captured by Venezuelans showed orange flashes emanating from residential areas and military bases, along with images of destroyed civilian infrastructure and fires raging across Caracas.
The US military planes were observed departing from a base in Puerto Rico before carrying out the raid in Venezuela. The aftermath of the operation left a trail of destruction, with containers at La Guaira port and military complexes, including Fuerte Tiuna, sustaining damage. Trump’s confirmation of the US strike has further intensified the political tensions surrounding the incident.