United States (US) forces carried out an overnight operation in Venezuela yesterday that ended with President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, captured and removed from the country.

The operation began at about 2 AM with explosions and aircraft activity reported across Caracas, the Venezuelan capital, where the presidency and national security command sites are based. Smoke was seen rising from multiple areas of the city, and strikes were also reported in La Guaira, the Caribbean coastal state that hosts the country’s main port.

Trump first announced the capture in a post on social media, saying Maduro “has been, along with his wife, captured and flown out of the country.” In a later appearance at his Mar-a-Lago residence, Trump praised the raid and said, “This was one of the most stunning, effective and powerful displays of American might and competence in American history.”

US officials have pointed to existing US criminal cases as the stated basis for the operation. US authorities have accused Maduro of leading a “narco-state” and have filed federal charges in New York linked to drug trafficking allegations, which he has denied.

American Vice President JD Vance echoed that rationale in a public statement, writing, “The president [Trump] offered multiple off ramps, but was very clear throughout this process: the drug trafficking must stop.”

The operation to arrest Maduro involved the US Army’s Delta Force, a specialist unit typically used for high-risk raids, and that the plan relied on intelligence tracking of Maduro’s movements. Air strikes hit military targets including air defence systems, and the ground team moved into Caracas as helicopters were seen flying low over parts of the city. Trump said the scale of air power was “massive” and added, “We had a fighter jet for every possible situation.” He described Maduro’s location as a “very highly guarded... fortress,” and said, “They got taken out in a matter of seconds.”

In Caracas after dawn, senior figures in the Venezuelan government condemned the operation. Venezuela’s vice president, Delcy Rodriguez, now sworn in as President, said, “We do not know the whereabouts of President Nicolás Maduro and First Lady Cilia Flores,” adding, “We demand proof of life.”

International reactions followed. China said, “China is deeply shocked and strongly condemns the use of force by the U.S. against a sovereign country and the use of force against the president of a country.”

Russia said, “This morning, the United States committed an act of armed aggression against Venezuela. This is deeply concerning and condemnable.”

Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Keir Starmer said, “I can be absolutely clear that we were not involved,” and added, “we should all uphold international law.”

In Pretoria, South Africa’s foreign ministry said the action was “a manifest violation of the Charter of the United Nations” and called on the United Nations Security Council to convene urgently.

Trump said the US would now manage Venezuela’s transition, telling reporters, “We’re going to run the country until such time as we can do a safe, proper and judicious transition.”