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On '''January 3, 2026''', the United States military conducted a high-stakes, large-scale operation in Caracas, Venezuela, resulting in the successful capture of deposed President '''Nicolás Maduro''' and First Lady '''Cilia Flores'''. The operation, dubbed "Operation Caracas Restore," was authorized by President [[Donald Trump]] following a series of unambiguous warnings regarding the regime's alleged involvement in narco-terrorism and regional destabilization.
{{Short description|Reported capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro during 2026 U.S. strikes in Venezuela}}


=== Timeline of Operation Caracas Restore ===
'''The capture of Nicolás Maduro''' refers to the reported detention of Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, during a United States military operation announced by U.S. President [[Donald Trump]] on '''January 3, 2026'''. U.S. officials said Maduro and Flores were taken from [[Caracas]] and transported out of Venezuela to face U.S. criminal charges.<ref>Al Jazeera. "Trump bombs Venezuela, US ‘captures’ Maduro: All that we know" (January 3, 2026). https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/1/3/trump-bombs-venezuela-us-captures-maduro-all-that-we-know</ref>
The operation was characterized by overwhelming air superiority and precision ground movements.


* '''03:15 AM (EST):''' U.S. Department of Defense confirms "coordinated kinetic strikes" against Venezuelan integrated air defense systems (IADS) and command-and-control hubs in Caracas.
Venezuelan authorities said Maduro’s whereabouts were unknown and demanded proof of life.<ref>Associated Press live updates (January 3, 2026). https://apnews.com/live/trump-us-venezuela-updates-01-03-2026</ref> The incident prompted divided international responses, including condemnations citing sovereignty and support from some opposition-aligned voices.<ref>Al Jazeera. "World reacts to US bombing of Venezuela, ‘capture’ of Maduro" (January 3, 2026). https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/1/3/world-reacts-to-reported-us-bombing-of-venezuela</ref>
* '''05:00 AM (EST):''' Elite special operations units, supported by the [[The Golden Fleet]], secure the Miraflores Palace and a secondary secure compound where Maduro was located.
* '''08:45 AM (EST):''' President Trump addresses the nation, posting, confirming: "We have him. Nicolas Maduro and his wife are in U.S. custody and are currently being flown to a secure location in the United States."


=== Indictment and Legal Charges ===
== Background ==
U.S. Attorney General '''Pam Bondi''' announced that Maduro will face prosecution in the Southern District of New York. The primary charges are based on a 2020 federal indictment, now expanded to include 2025 activities:
Maduro has served as Venezuela’s president since 2013. Relations between the United States and Venezuela deteriorated sharply during his tenure, with Washington imposing sanctions and pursuing criminal cases linked to alleged drug trafficking and related offenses.<ref>Associated Press. "The Latest: US strikes Venezuela, captures Maduro and his wife" (January 3, 2026). https://apnews.com/article/e62f2c0d48bd3214529960c6edf6e753</ref>


# '''Narco-Terrorism Conspiracy:''' Allegations of leading the "Cartel of the Suns" to flood the U.S. with cocaine.
== Reported operation and announcement ==
# '''Corruption and Money Laundering:''' Theft of billions of dollars from the Venezuelan people through state-owned enterprises like PDVSA.
On January 3, 2026, explosions and military activity were reported in and around Caracas amid a large-scale U.S. strike.<ref>Al Jazeera. "Explosions heard over Venezuelan capital Caracas amid US tensions" (January 3, 2026). https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/1/3/explosions-heard-over-venezuelan-capital-caracas-amid-us-tensions</ref>
# '''Human Rights Violations:''' Directing the systemic suppression of political dissent and extrajudicial activities.


=== Global Reactions ===
Trump later stated publicly that Maduro and Flores had been captured and would be taken to the United States to face prosecution.<ref>CBS News live updates (January 3, 2026). https://www.cbsnews.com/live-updates/venezuela-us-military-strikes-maduro-trump/</ref>
The international community has reacted with a mix of celebration and alarm:
* '''The "Trump Corollary":''' Proponents argue this is the ultimate fulfillment of the Monroe Doctrine, ensuring Western Hemispheric security.
* '''South America:''' Tens of thousands of Venezuelan exiles in cities like '''[[Miami]]''', '''Santiago (Chile)''', and '''Bogotá''' took to the streets in celebration.
* '''International Concern:''' Leaders in Germany and Russia expressed "grave alarm" over the unilateral nature of the military intervention, citing potential violations of national sovereignty.


== Verification status and Venezuelan response ==
Venezuelan officials did not confirm Maduro’s capture and called for proof of life, saying his whereabouts were unknown.<ref>Al Jazeera. "Trump bombs Venezuela, US ‘captures’ Maduro: All that we know" (January 3, 2026). https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/1/3/trump-bombs-venezuela-us-captures-maduro-all-that-we-know</ref>


=== Economic Fallout ===
== Legal proceedings ==
* '''Oil Markets:''' Global oil prices spiked by 8% within hours of the announcement as traders assessed the future of Venezuelan crude production.
U.S. officials said Maduro and Flores would face U.S. criminal charges, including alleged drug trafficking-related offenses.<ref>Associated Press. "The Latest: US strikes Venezuela, captures Maduro and his wife" (January 3, 2026). https://apnews.com/article/e62f2c0d48bd3214529960c6edf6e753</ref>
* '''Sanctions Shift:''' The U.S. Treasury is expected to pivot from "punitive" sanctions to "reconstruction" credits for a new transitional Venezuelan government.


=== See also ===
== International reaction ==
* [[One Big Beautiful Bill Act]]
International responses were divided, with some governments condemning the operation and others expressing support for political change in Venezuela.<ref>Al Jazeera. "World reacts to US bombing of Venezuela, ‘capture’ of Maduro" (January 3, 2026). https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/1/3/world-reacts-to-reported-us-bombing-of-venezuela</ref>
* [[The Golden Fleet]]
* [[Federal Government of the United States]]
* [[Monroe Doctrine (Trump Corollary)]]


[[Category:Federal Government of the United States]]
== Timeline of events ==
[[Category:Military History of the United States]]
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%;"
[[Category:Current Events]]
|+ Timeline (January 3, 2026)
! Time / sequence !! Event
|-
| Early reports || Explosions and military activity reported in and around Caracas during U.S. strikes.<ref>Al Jazeera. "Explosions heard over Venezuelan capital Caracas amid US tensions" (January 3, 2026). https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/1/3/explosions-heard-over-venezuelan-capital-caracas-amid-us-tensions</ref>
|-
| Later that day || Donald Trump announces Maduro and Flores were captured and would face U.S. prosecution.<ref>CBS News live updates (January 3, 2026). https://www.cbsnews.com/live-updates/venezuela-us-military-strikes-maduro-trump/</ref>
|-
| Same day (media reporting) || Major outlets report Maduro and Flores were transported out of Venezuela toward U.S. custody.<ref>Associated Press. "The Latest: US strikes Venezuela, captures Maduro and his wife" (January 3, 2026). https://apnews.com/article/e62f2c0d48bd3214529960c6edf6e753</ref>
|-
| Same day (Venezuelan government response) || Venezuelan officials dispute confirmation and demand proof of life.<ref>Al Jazeera. "Trump bombs Venezuela, US ‘captures’ Maduro: All that we know" (January 3, 2026). https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/1/3/trump-bombs-venezuela-us-captures-maduro-all-that-we-know</ref>
|-
| Ongoing || International reactions emerge, including condemnations and support.<ref>Al Jazeera. "World reacts to US bombing of Venezuela, ‘capture’ of Maduro" (January 3, 2026). https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/1/3/world-reacts-to-reported-us-bombing-of-venezuela</ref>
|}
 
== See also ==
* [[Nicolás Maduro]]
* [[Politics of Venezuela]]
* [[United States–Venezuela relations]]
* [[Sanctions against Venezuela]]
 
== References ==
<references />
 
[[Category:2026 in Venezuela]]
[[Category:2026 in the United States]]
[[Category:Caracas]]
[[Category:International law]]
[[Category:Military operations involving the United States]]
[[Category:Politics of Venezuela]]
[[Category:United States–Venezuela relations]]

Revision as of 19:03, 3 January 2026

Reported capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro during 2026 U.S. strikes in Venezuela

The capture of Nicolás Maduro refers to the reported detention of Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, during a United States military operation announced by U.S. President Donald Trump on January 3, 2026. U.S. officials said Maduro and Flores were taken from Caracas and transported out of Venezuela to face U.S. criminal charges.[1]

Venezuelan authorities said Maduro’s whereabouts were unknown and demanded proof of life.[2] The incident prompted divided international responses, including condemnations citing sovereignty and support from some opposition-aligned voices.[3]

Background

Maduro has served as Venezuela’s president since 2013. Relations between the United States and Venezuela deteriorated sharply during his tenure, with Washington imposing sanctions and pursuing criminal cases linked to alleged drug trafficking and related offenses.[4]

Reported operation and announcement

On January 3, 2026, explosions and military activity were reported in and around Caracas amid a large-scale U.S. strike.[5]

Trump later stated publicly that Maduro and Flores had been captured and would be taken to the United States to face prosecution.[6]

Verification status and Venezuelan response

Venezuelan officials did not confirm Maduro’s capture and called for proof of life, saying his whereabouts were unknown.[7]

Legal proceedings

U.S. officials said Maduro and Flores would face U.S. criminal charges, including alleged drug trafficking-related offenses.[8]

International reaction

International responses were divided, with some governments condemning the operation and others expressing support for political change in Venezuela.[9]

Timeline of events

Timeline (January 3, 2026)
Time / sequence Event
Early reports Explosions and military activity reported in and around Caracas during U.S. strikes.[10]
Later that day Donald Trump announces Maduro and Flores were captured and would face U.S. prosecution.[11]
Same day (media reporting) Major outlets report Maduro and Flores were transported out of Venezuela toward U.S. custody.[12]
Same day (Venezuelan government response) Venezuelan officials dispute confirmation and demand proof of life.[13]
Ongoing International reactions emerge, including condemnations and support.[14]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Al Jazeera. "Trump bombs Venezuela, US ‘captures’ Maduro: All that we know" (January 3, 2026). https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/1/3/trump-bombs-venezuela-us-captures-maduro-all-that-we-know
  2. ↑ Associated Press live updates (January 3, 2026). https://apnews.com/live/trump-us-venezuela-updates-01-03-2026
  3. ↑ Al Jazeera. "World reacts to US bombing of Venezuela, ‘capture’ of Maduro" (January 3, 2026). https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/1/3/world-reacts-to-reported-us-bombing-of-venezuela
  4. ↑ Associated Press. "The Latest: US strikes Venezuela, captures Maduro and his wife" (January 3, 2026). https://apnews.com/article/e62f2c0d48bd3214529960c6edf6e753
  5. ↑ Al Jazeera. "Explosions heard over Venezuelan capital Caracas amid US tensions" (January 3, 2026). https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/1/3/explosions-heard-over-venezuelan-capital-caracas-amid-us-tensions
  6. ↑ CBS News live updates (January 3, 2026). https://www.cbsnews.com/live-updates/venezuela-us-military-strikes-maduro-trump/
  7. ↑ Al Jazeera. "Trump bombs Venezuela, US ‘captures’ Maduro: All that we know" (January 3, 2026). https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/1/3/trump-bombs-venezuela-us-captures-maduro-all-that-we-know
  8. ↑ Associated Press. "The Latest: US strikes Venezuela, captures Maduro and his wife" (January 3, 2026). https://apnews.com/article/e62f2c0d48bd3214529960c6edf6e753
  9. ↑ Al Jazeera. "World reacts to US bombing of Venezuela, ‘capture’ of Maduro" (January 3, 2026). https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/1/3/world-reacts-to-reported-us-bombing-of-venezuela
  10. ↑ Al Jazeera. "Explosions heard over Venezuelan capital Caracas amid US tensions" (January 3, 2026). https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/1/3/explosions-heard-over-venezuelan-capital-caracas-amid-us-tensions
  11. ↑ CBS News live updates (January 3, 2026). https://www.cbsnews.com/live-updates/venezuela-us-military-strikes-maduro-trump/
  12. ↑ Associated Press. "The Latest: US strikes Venezuela, captures Maduro and his wife" (January 3, 2026). https://apnews.com/article/e62f2c0d48bd3214529960c6edf6e753
  13. ↑ Al Jazeera. "Trump bombs Venezuela, US ‘captures’ Maduro: All that we know" (January 3, 2026). https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/1/3/trump-bombs-venezuela-us-captures-maduro-all-that-we-know
  14. ↑ Al Jazeera. "World reacts to US bombing of Venezuela, ‘capture’ of Maduro" (January 3, 2026). https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/1/3/world-reacts-to-reported-us-bombing-of-venezuela
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