The United States has launched its most direct intervention in Latin America in decades, announcing the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, following a large-scale U.S. military strike on Caracas early Saturday. U.S. President Donald Trump said the pair were removed from Venezuela and are being transported to New York, where they face criminal charges.

Trump claimed the U.S. will “run Venezuela” temporarily until what he called a “proper transition” takes place, though he offered few details on how that governance would work. The operation—dubbed Operation Absolute Resolve—reportedly involved months of planning, elite special forces, intelligence agencies, and more than 150 aircraft deployed from multiple bases. U.S. officials say Maduro was captured at a military installation in Caracas.

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The Venezuelan government condemned the action as an “imperialist attack,” accusing the U.S. of kidnapping its president and bombing civilian and military infrastructure. Explosions rocked parts of Caracas, power outages were reported, and authorities urged citizens to take to the streets. Casualty numbers remain unclear, though Venezuela says civilians and military personnel were killed. The U.S. said some of its forces were injured but reported no deaths.

Maduro and Flores have been indicted in New York, accused by U.S. authorities of running a “narco-state” and rigging Venezuela’s 2024 election. Trump openly referenced Venezuela’s vast oil reserves, saying U.S. involvement would be funded by oil revenues—an assertion long used by Maduro to argue Washington’s true motives.

International reaction was swift and divided. Allies like Javier Milei praised the move, while leaders including Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Russia, Iran, Cuba, and others strongly condemned it. The European Union called for restraint and respect for international law, while Canada reiterated it does not recognize the legitimacy of the Maduro regime but urged adherence to democratic norms.

Air travel across parts of the Caribbean was disrupted, hundreds of flights were cancelled, and U.S. aviation authorities closed Venezuelan airspace due to ongoing military activity. As global leaders monitor the situation, uncertainty remains over who will govern Venezuela next and whether the crisis could escalate further.