U.S. launches airstrikes on Venezuelan military sites, Trump claims Maduro captured
(January 3, 2026) In the earliest hours of Saturday morning, the United States launched a series of large-scale airstrikes across northern Venezuela, including the capital Caracas, marking a dramatic escalation in relations between Washington and Caracas. Explosions and low-flying aircraft were reported by residents, and major military and government infrastructure was struck.
The Trump administration justified the operation as part of an ongoing campaign against what it calls a “narco-terrorist” regime allied with illegal armed groups and drug trafficking networks. U.S. military and intelligence operations against Venezuela had been building for months, including maritime interdictions of suspected drug smuggling and covert CIA activities.
The White House under Trump alleges that Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro was frauduently elected and complicit with drug cartels, opinions that Maduro’s government rejects as unfounded and imperialistic. The White House has also accused Venezuelan leaders of resisting democratic norms and threatening regional stability.
Trump confirmed the military action in a social media post early Saturday, describing it as a “large-scale strike against Venezuela” and saying that President Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, had been captured and flown out of the country. Trump said the operation had been carried out in coordination with U.S. law enforcement but offered few details about where they were taken or how long the operation would continue.
While Trump’s announcement that Maduro and Flores were taken into custody and removed from Venezuelan territory is unprecedented, there is currently no independent confirmation of their status or location from Venezuelan authorities or international observers. Maduro’s government has condemned the strikes as an “imperialist attack,” declared a state of emergency, and called on citizens to resist.
If the capture is confirmed, it would represent one of the most significant forceful removals of a sitting head of state by the U.S. since the 1989 Panama invasion. The fate of Maduro and his wife — whether facing prosecution in U.S. courts or held elsewhere — remains unclear, according to Reuters.
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It also remains uncertain whether the U.S. Congress formally authorized this military action. There has been no published declaration of war or explicit authorization for the use of force from Congress. Multiple lawmakers have questioned whether the White House provided prior notification, with some noting that the Constitution generally requires congressional approval for military engagements of this magnitude.
Reports indicate Congress was not notified beforehand of the strikes, according to AP News. Legal experts and legislators have already raised concerns about the operation’s constitutional legitimacy, especially given the absence of a formal declaration of war or specific statutory authorization.
US Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, posted his potential concerns, reflecting a view from the right flank in the Congress. “I look forward to learning what, if anything, might constitutionally justify this action in the absence of a declaration of war or authorization for the use of military force,” Lee said on X. ~ Gulf News
Reactions from World Leaders: International responses are sharply divided:
- Venezuela called the operation a “criminal military aggression” that threatens international peace and sovereignty. ~ L’Orient Today
- Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro denounced what he described as a missile attack on Caracas, urging international bodies like the United Nations to convene urgently. ~ Greek City Times
- Allies of Venezuela, including Cuba and Iran, condemned the U.S., warning of destabilization and broader conflict. ~ New York Post
- Other regional leaders and major powers have warned that the strikes violate international law and could spur a wider crisis. (Reactions are developing.) ~ AP News
Initial reports from Venezuelan witnesses and news outlets indicate that the U.S. airstrike phase of the operation on the night of January 2–3, 2026 lasted less than 30 minutes — with explosions and low-flying aircraft heard around 2 a.m. local time — though aircraft activity and associated military operations may have continued for up to an hour or more in some areas as forces secured targets.
The situation remains fluid:
- On the ground in Caracas, residents are experiencing power outages and heightened military activity as Venezuela’s government mobilizes its defense forces.
- U.S. policy and legal debates are expected to intensify as Congress, courts, and international bodies weigh in on the legality and ramifications.
- Regional diplomacy faces a test as Latin American nations consider whether to support Venezuela’s sovereignty or call for de-escalation.
This story is ongoing and developing rapidly. Confirming details, especially about Maduro’s status and international legal assessments, will be critical in shaping the narrative in the coming hours and days.
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(Additional Sources: Defense Blog – Military and Defense News, EL PAÍS English, Times of Earth)
Posted by Richard Webster, Ace News Today
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