🚨 BREAKING — U.S. STRIKES VENEZUELA: MADURO CAPTURED AND FLOWN OUT, TRUMP DECLARES NEW ERA 🚨

A.Weishaupt
5 days ago
2 min read

Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026 – PRE-DAWN OPERATION SHAKES GLOBAL POWER STRUCTURE

In a historic and unprecedented military operation, the United States carried out major strikes inside Venezuela early this morning. **President Donald J. Trump — now in his second term — has announced that Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife have been captured by U.S. forces and flown out of the country following the pre-dawn assault. AP News+1

Trump’s announcement, shared on social media and confirmed by senior U.S. officials, declares the operation a success and marks what his administration is calling a definitive end to Maduro’s grip on power. AP News

What Happened Tonight

Explosions and low-flying aircraft were reported across Caracas and nearby regions before dawn, striking multiple military sites and installations.
U.S. military forces executed a large-scale attack on Venezuelan targets as part of Operation Southern Spear, as the Pentagon and White House confirmed the action.
President Trump says Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores were captured and flown out of Venezuela in a precision mission involving elite units; more details promised at today’s Mar-a-Lago press conference. CBS News+1
U.S. civilian and military officials say the mission was done “in conjunction with U.S. law enforcement.” AP News

Venezuela Responds

While U.S. authorities celebrate the claimed capture:

Venezuelan government officials say they do not yet know Maduro’s whereabouts and are demanding immediate proof-of-life. Reuters
Caracas has declared the strikes an act of “military aggression,” activated national defense plans, and urged citizens to mobilize.

Global Tremors

This isn’t a simple strike — it’s the most direct American military action in Latin America since Panama in 1989. ReutersReactions are already rippling around the world:

Allies and adversaries alike are reacting as the operation unfolds. Population centers heard blasts, and infrastructure was disrupted across key Venezuelan regions. AP News
International condemnation and emergency diplomatic calls are already emerging as events continue to develop. Wikipedia

What We Know for Certain

The U.S. launched significant military strikes in Venezuela early today. Wikipedia

✔️ President Trump publicly declared Maduro and his wife captured and flown out. AP News

✔️ Venezuelan leadership challenges that claim and demands proof of life. Reuters

✔️ The situation remains fluid; ground reports are still coming in. AP News

From Venezuelan Sources

A circulated message from Caracas reporting major target strikes lists:

La Carlota airport bombed
Cuartel de la Montaña hit
Federal Palace in Caracas bombed
Multiple bases and airports attacked
Widespread power outages in Caracas zones
Helicopter base in Higuerote disabledThis message is unverified but aligns with explosion reports from media outlets. (User-provided image, reflective of the chaos documented by live reporting.)

What This Means

Tonight, the Trump administration declared war on a sitting foreign leader accused of narco-terrorism and authoritarian brutality, and claimed to have removed him. Whether every detail is confirmed yet or not, the news cycle has already flipped: