Venezuela has just been hit by large-scale United States airstrikes, and Donald Trump is claiming that Nicolás Maduro has been captured and removed from the country, plunging Venezuela into a fast-moving political and military crisis.

What just happened

  • In the early hours of January 3, 2026, the US launched coordinated airstrikes against multiple targets in and around Caracas and other northern cities under an operation reportedly codenamed Operation Absolute Resolve.
  • Explosions were reported near major military installations and infrastructure, including air bases and port facilities, and Venezuela declared a national state of emergency.
  • Donald Trump announced that Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores were “captured and flown out of the country,” and US officials say they will face charges in American courts.

Who is claiming what

  • Trump says the US will effectively run Venezuela temporarily to oversee what he calls a “safe transition,” framing the strikes as part of long-running efforts to remove Maduro.
  • Venezuelan officials call the operation an “imperialist attack” and “extremely serious military aggression,” and some are demanding proof that Maduro is alive and clarifying his whereabouts.
  • There is still confusion inside Venezuela’s leadership: the foreign minister has suggested Maduro remains in charge, while reports say Vice President Delcy Rodríguez left the country at least briefly.

Military and on-the-ground situation

  • Venezuelan residents reported hearing several explosions overnight, low-flying aircraft, and strikes on key military sites such as La Carlota airfield, Fuerte Tiuna, and other strategic locations.
  • Venezuela’s defense minister announced a massive deployment of all branches of the armed forces and accused the US of hitting residential areas and killing or endangering civilians.
  • Casualty figures and full damage assessments are not yet clear, but concerns are mounting about a potential broader conflict or internal unrest.

How the world is reacting

  • The UN Secretary-General and several governments have warned that the US action sets a “dangerous precedent” and could destabilize not just Venezuela but the wider region.
  • Some leaders in Latin America and beyond are condemning the strikes as a violation of sovereignty, while a few opponents of Maduro are expressing cautious or explicit support for his removal.
  • Colombia has reportedly deployed troops to its border with Venezuela, citing fears of a humanitarian crisis and spillover violence.

What to watch next

  • Whether Maduro really is in US custody, and if the US releases verifiable evidence such as video or court filings to back Trump’s claim.
  • How Venezuela’s military and security forces align: whether they rally around a new leadership, fragment, or resist further, which will shape whether this becomes a prolonged conflict or a rapid power shift.
  • International moves at the UN Security Council and in regional organizations, which will signal whether this becomes a heavily contested international crisis or gains broader acceptance.

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