U.S. Forces Capture President Nicolas Maduro and His Wife in Bold Operation

In a stunning escalation of tensions between the United States and Venezuela, President Donald Trump announced early this morning that U.S. special forces have captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, during a high-stakes raid in Caracas.

According to Trump, who addressed the nation via a post on X (formerly Twitter) at approximately 5 a.m. ET, elite Delta Force operators stormed Maduro's residence within the fortified Fuerte Tiuna military complex. The couple was extracted by helicopter and transferred to the USS Iwo Jima, an amphibious assault ship stationed off the Venezuelan coast.

The operation had been planned four days in advance but was postponed due to adverse weather conditions, according to U.S. officials. When Delta Force operatives stormed the compound where Maduro was staying, the Venezuelan leader did not have time to escape to a secured safe room located nearby. President Trump claimed that Maduro attempted to negotiate during the raid but was refused.

They are now en route to New York, where Maduro faces federal charges related to narco-terrorism, drug trafficking, and corruption, indictments unsealed by the U.S. Department of Justice in 2020.

The operation, described by the White House as a "large-scale strike" to enforce longstanding indictments, has sparked international outrage and accusations of kidnapping from Venezuelan officials.

"This is a victory for justice and the American people," Trump stated in his announcement. "Maduro has been poisoning our communities with drugs and terrorizing his own country for too long. We're bringing him to face the music."

Speaking about next steps, Trump stated: "We are now deciding on the following measures. We want the people of Venezuela to have free elections."

A press conference is scheduled for 11 a.m. at Mar-a-Lago, where further details on the operation and its implications will be discussed.

Venezuelan ruling party leaders, including Diosdado Cabello, have condemned the action as an "imperialist kidnapping" and a violation of international law. "This is not justice; it's aggression," Cabello said in a televised address from Miraflores Palace. Reports from Caracas indicate sporadic protests and heightened security around government buildings, with the Venezuelan military on high alert. Interim leadership has reportedly fallen to Vice President Delcy Rodríguez, who vowed to resist any further U.S. interference.

The raid comes amid months of mounting U.S. pressure on the Maduro regime, including renewed sanctions and diplomatic isolation. Experts suggest the move could destabilize the region, potentially affecting oil markets and migration flows. Global reactions have been swift: Russia and China, key allies of Venezuela, issued statements denouncing the operation as "unlawful extraterritorial enforcement," while the United Nations called for restraint to avoid further escalation.

Human rights groups have raised concerns about the legality of the capture and potential risks to civilians during the raid, though U.S. officials insist the operation was precise and resulted in no casualties.

Israel congratulated the operation through its Foreign Minister, while France condemned the action, highlighting the international divide over the controversial military intervention.

The Israeli Foreign Ministry has issued a travel warning, urging Israeli citizens to avoid traveling to Venezuela amid the current instability.