Yes. Multiple major outlets report that the United States conducted large- scale strikes in Venezuela and captured President Nicolás Maduro in an overnight operation, flying him and his wife Cilia Flores out of the country to face narco‑terrorism and related charges in U.S. courts.

What Happened

  • U.S. forces carried out a rapid military strike early Saturday targeting sites in and around Caracas, Venezuela’s capital.
  • During the operation, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores were seized at a military complex in Caracas and removed from the country on U.S. aircraft.
  • Trump publicly announced that Maduro had been captured, posting an image of him in custody and framing the mission as a warning to other governments viewed as threats to U.S. security.

What the U.S. Is Saying

  • U.S. officials say Maduro and Flores are being brought to New York to face charges tied to narcotics trafficking and terrorism, expanding earlier U.S. indictments accusing top Venezuelan officials of running a “narco‑state.”
  • Trump has stated that the U.S. will temporarily “run” Venezuela until what he calls a safe political transition can be arranged, and has openly linked this role to access to Venezuela’s vast oil reserves.
  • Senior officials have described the operation as a “new dawn for Venezuela,” presenting it as the culmination of months of pressure, including increased U.S. military presence in the region and prior strikes on alleged drug‑smuggling vessels.

Situation Inside Venezuela

  • The strike triggered explosions across Caracas, including at military installations, and reports of power outages and damage at at least one base; Venezuelan state media has labeled the action an “imperialist attack.”
  • Pro‑Maduro supporters have taken to the streets, while the country’s chain of command and future leadership remain unclear, leaving Venezuela in a state of political shock and uncertainty.
  • Analysts note that although Maduro has been removed, Venezuelan institutions have not simply collapsed, and the coming 72 hours are seen as critical for whether a new order takes hold or deeper chaos emerges.

How People Are Reacting Online

  • Forum discussions are sharply divided: some users see the capture as overdue justice against an authoritarian leader, while others warn it is a dangerous precedent for unilateral regime change in Latin America.
  • Commenters are drawing parallels to the 1989 U.S. invasion of Panama and the capture of Manuel Noriega, questioning both the legal basis and the long‑term consequences for Venezuelan civilians.
  • There is also skepticism that the operation may serve broader geopolitical or domestic political aims, with some posts suggesting it distracts attention from other scandals and leverages Venezuela’s oil and strategic position.

What to Watch Next

  • Announcements from Washington on any interim governing structure, sanctions changes, and timelines for elections or transition.
  • Signals from Venezuela’s armed forces and ruling party elites—whether they accept Maduro’s removal, fragment, or resist, which will heavily shape the risk of civil conflict.
  • International reactions from regional neighbors, the UN, and major powers like Russia and China, which previously engaged Maduro’s government and now must decide how to respond to the U.S. action.

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