US Launches 'Large-scale Strike' on Venezuela and Captures President Maduro

US President Donald Trump has said Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife have been detained and removed from the country following US military strikes on targets in Caracas.

Venezuela’s government has declared a state of national emergency and accused the United States of carrying out unlawful military aggression. Officials in Caracas have demanded proof that Maduro and his wife are alive, rejecting Washington’s claims and describing the operation as an attempt to force regime change and seize control of the country’s oil resources.

Residents in Caracas reported multiple explosions across the city, with fires and heavy smoke visible in several areas. One witness told the BBC they were shaken as blasts echoed through nearby neighbourhoods. Videos shared online showed smoke rising from different districts, with military facilities believed to be among the targets.

La Carlota airfield in central Caracas and the Fuerte Tiuna military base were both reported to have been hit. Power outages affected surrounding areas, and residents described hearing aircraft overhead. The explosions appeared to occur almost simultaneously, suggesting a coordinated operation.

The strikes follow months of US action against Venezuelan assets, particularly at sea. Since September, Washington has carried out dozens of attacks on vessels it says were involved in drug smuggling, resulting in more than 110 deaths. US forces have also seized two oil tankers under sanctions and are pursuing a third.

Trump has repeatedly accused Maduro of running a criminal state, alleging that oil revenues are used to support drug trafficking and that state institutions have contributed to irregular migration. In late December, he suggested that a first land-based strike had taken place in Zulia, a major oil-producing region in western Venezuela.

Maduro had recently indicated a willingness to engage with the United States on drug trafficking and energy issues. In a television interview last week, he said he was open to talks at any time, though he did not directly address claims that the CIA had targeted a Venezuelan docking facility.

In response to the latest developments, the Venezuelan government issued a statement calling on community organisations, militias and political supporters to mobilise in defence of the country. Analysts say such appeals are consistent with the government’s past efforts to project strength during periods of crisis.