Dramatic new images from Venezuela depict the moment US forces conducted a swift and explosive operation to extract Nicolas Maduro, the authoritarian Venezuelan President who has been a target of the Donald Trump administration. The operation, described by Trump as a “large-scale strike,” caused explosions in parts of Caracas as soldiers descended on the capital city, triggering panic among some locals.
Although Trump has not publicly addressed the operation beyond his social media platform, Truth Social, he is scheduled to make a statement later in the day. Details of the incident have emerged from statements by top officials in Venezuela.
In a Truth Social post, Trump announced the successful operation against Maduro, who was captured along with his wife and flown out of the country in collaboration with US law enforcement. Maduro has been indicted in the Southern District of New York on charges related to drugs trafficking and firearms.
Venezuela’s attorney general, Tarek William Saab, criticized the US strikes, alleging that innocent people were fatally injured, though no evidence was provided, and referred to the operation as a “terrorist attack.”
Residents captured photos and videos showing orange flashes and destruction at a military base. Images revealed a destroyed civilian bus and people navigating through smoldering metal containers. Helicopters were observed over Caracas during the raid, while fires blazed across the city, damaging civilian infrastructure and military complexes.
The Venezuelan government denounced the alleged “terrorist” attack, with some individuals seen fleeing in panic during the raids. The operation also caused fires at La Guaira port and involved US military planes departing from a base in Puerto Rico before executing the mission in Venezuela.