what happened last night

The biggest thing that “happened last night” was a massive U.S. military operation in Venezuela in which President Nicolás Maduro and his wife were captured, with Donald Trump announcing that the U.S. will temporarily “run” the country and its oil sector. There were also broader ripple effects: emergency political reactions around the world, security debates in the U.S., and strong, mixed public responses among Venezuelans.

Quick Scoop: Global Headlines

• U.S. forces carried out a large, coordinated night-time strike on Caracas involving more than 150 aircraft under “Operation Absolute Resolve.”

• Nicolás Maduro and his wife were taken into custody and flown out of Venezuela; Trump says no U.S. personnel were killed in the operation.

• Trump publicly stated that the U.S. will “run” Venezuela on a transitional basis to restore order and “get the oil flowing,” sparking intense international debate.

Venezuela: What Went Down

• Explosions and power outages were reported in Caracas as U.S. air, land, and sea forces hit Venezuelan targets, with officials saying Venezuelan military capabilities were quickly neutralized.

• Maduro was reportedly seized from a heavily guarded compound after U.S. helicopters came under fire but remained operational; he allegedly tried to flee to a fortified safe room before being captured.

• The Venezuelan government declared a state of emergency and urged supporters to flood the streets in response to what it called an “imperialist attack.”

Political Shockwaves

• Trump lauded the raid as an “extraordinary military operation,” comparing the scale of the assault to major actions not seen since World War II.

• The U.N. Security Council was pushed toward an emergency session as countries like Colombia and Russia demanded discussions on the legality and consequences of the strike.

• U.S. domestic coverage focused both on the success of the raid and on concerns about escalation, long-term occupation, and regional instability.

Public & Diaspora Reactions

• Some Venezuelans at home and abroad celebrated openly, chanting “Libertad” and singing both the U.S. and Venezuelan national anthems, describing the moment as something they had waited decades to see.

• Others expressed deep concern about foreign control of their country and the possibility of prolonged U.S. management of Venezuelan institutions and oil resources.

• Online forums and social feeds were split between framing this as liberation from authoritarian rule and as a dangerous precedent of regime change by force.

Other Notable Incidents Around The World

• A strong 6.5‑magnitude earthquake hit parts of Mexico, causing structural damage and at least two deaths, with aftershocks adding to the sense of unease in affected regions.

• In the Swiss Alps, a nightclub fire earlier in the New Year period continued to draw coverage, after officials reported that at least 40 people died and suggested champagne sparklers likely ignited the blaze.

• U.S. outlets also highlighted separate security issues, including a foiled ISIS-inspired terror plot in North Carolina and heightened domestic security concerns following the Venezuela strike.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.