President Donald Trump announced early Saturday that Madura Captured operations had been completed in Venezuela, claiming the United States carried out a “large scale strike” that resulted in the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.

 The dramatic statement, posted on Trump’s social media platform, followed reports of explosions in Caracas and marks a major escalation in long-running tensions between Washington and Venezuela, though key details remain unverified by independent international observers.

According to Trump, the operation lasted roughly two hours, and combined CIA drone strikes with a ground mission led by the U.S. Army’s elite Delta Force. Photos and videos circulating on social media showed fireballs and smoke rising over parts of Caracas, fueling speculation that a significant military action had occurred.

Trump Announces ‘Large Scale Strike’ and Maduro’s Capture

Trump said the United States had “successfully carried out a large-scale strike against Venezuela” and that Maduro and his wife were “captured and flown out of the country.” The announcement came shortly before 4:30 a.m. Eastern time, only hours after residents in Caracas reported hearing multiple explosions.

“We lost no aircraft; everything came back — we got it all back,” Trump said later. “One of them was hit pretty hard — a helicopter — but we got it back.”

The president elaborated during an 11 a.m. news conference at Mar-a-Lago, stating that while several American personnel were wounded, no U.S. troops were killed.

“I think we had nobody killed, I have to say, because a couple of guys were hit,” Trump said. “But they came back, and they’re supposed to be in pretty good shape.”

Delta Force and CIA Role in ‘Madura Captured’ Mission

Two people familiar with the operation told U.S. media outlets that CIA intelligence identified Maduro’s precise location before Delta Force executed the capture. Delta Force is a highly classified U.S. Army unit specializing in counterterrorism and hostage rescue missions.

Trump also claimed that the U.S. military constructed a replica of the target house to rehearse the mission in advance, underscoring the level of preparation involved.

According to a report cited by ABC News, Trump allegedly authorized the operation days earlier, with troops initially prepared to strike on Christmas Day. That timeline was reportedly delayed due to unrelated U.S. military operations against ISIS in Nigeria.

Injuries Reported, No Confirmed U.S. Fatalities

Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas, chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, confirmed that American forces sustained injuries during the mission.

“I spoke with Secretary [of State Marco] Rubio this morning,” Cotton said on Fox News. “He did share that we did have wounded personnel, but no killed, but that is never guaranteed in advance.”

Trump echoed that assessment, acknowledging that a helicopter took fire during the operation but returned safely.

Business Insider also reported on the incident, citing Trump’s statements that U.S. aircraft were hit but not lost during the mission.
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U.S. Indictment and ‘Narco-Terrorism’ Allegations

Attorney General Pamela Bondi said Maduro has been indicted in the Southern District of New York on multiple drug-related charges.

“They will soon face the full wrath of American justice on American soil in American courts,” Bondi said.

Federal prosecutors have accused Maduro since 2020 of leading a “narco-terrorism conspiracy” with Colombian rebel groups to smuggle cocaine into the United States. A federal indictment unsealed Saturday alleges Maduro was “at the forefront” of an operation that imported tons of cocaine while allowing “cocaine-fueled corruption to flourish.”

The indictment also names Maduro’s wife and son, Nicolás Maduro Guerra, among six defendants charged with narcotics conspiracy, weapons offenses, and cocaine importation.

Political Reaction in Washington

Republican lawmakers largely praised the action. Sen. Rick Scott of Florida wrote on X that “a new day is here for Venezuela and Latin America,” while Cotton said Maduro “wasn’t just an illegitimate dictator; he also ran a vast drug-trafficking operation.”

However, Democrats strongly criticized the move. Sen. Ruben Gallego of Arizona called it “the second unjustified war in my lifetime.”

“This war is illegal,” Gallego wrote. “It’s embarrassing that we went from the world cop to the world bully in less than one year.”

Sen. Mike Lee of Utah also raised constitutional concerns, questioning what authority justified military action without a declaration of war or authorization for the use of military force.

Venezuela and International Condemnation

The Venezuelan government condemned the operation, calling it “grave military aggression” targeting both military and civilian areas in Caracas and surrounding states. Maduro reportedly ordered the implementation of national defense plans and declared a “state of External Disturbance” nationwide.

Russia denounced the strike as “an act of armed aggression against Venezuela,” while Colombian President Gustavo Petro posted, “Alert the world: Venezuela has been attacked!” Argentine President Javier Milei, a Trump ally, publicly praised the move.

Broader Military Context and Oil Implications

The operation comes amid a major U.S. military buildup in the Caribbean, including an aircraft carrier, advanced warships, and roughly 15,000 U.S. troops. The U.S. has also conducted dozens of strikes against alleged drug-smuggling vessels and seized multiple Venezuela-linked oil tankers.

Trump later said the United States would be “strongly involved in Venezuela’s oil industry moving forward,” a statement likely to heighten geopolitical tensions across Latin America.

While Trump’s announcement that Madura Captured operations succeeded in Venezuela marks a potentially historic moment, many details remain disputed or unconfirmed outside U.S. government statements. The situation continues to evolve rapidly, with global implications for diplomacy, energy markets, and international law.

Additional Resources

'US Forces, Helicopter Took Fire in Operation to Capture Maduro: Trump - Business Insider

US captures Maduro, carries out 'large scale strike' in Venezuela

All the US Navy Ships Deployed to the Caribbean and Pacific: Photos - Business Insider