In a dramatic series of events that have reverberated across the Americas and around the world, the United States conducted a major military operation in Venezuela.

In the early hours of January 3, 2026, culminating in the reported capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.

The assault — involving air strikes and special operations forces — represents an extraordinary escalation in U.S.–Venezuela tensions and has sparked global debate over legality, regional stability, and the future of Venezuelan governance.

The Operation: Strikes, Special Forces, and Capture
According to multiple U.S. government statements and international news outlets, the mission — described by officials as Operation Absolute Resolve — began before dawn on January 3, 2026.

The stated objective was to neutralize Venezuelan air defenses and apprehend President Maduro, whom the U.S. government accuses of leading a regime engaged in drug trafficking and other criminal activity.

U.S. forces reportedly launched air strikes on several key military facilities in and around the capital, Caracas, including significant sites such as Fuerte Tiuna military complex and La Carlota airbase. These facilities are among Venezuela’s most important defense installations.

According to official statements, the operation involved coordinated strikes by fighter jets and support aircraft to suppress air defenses, followed by insertion of U.S. special operations units — including elite elements such as the U.S. Army’s Delta Force and the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment.

These troops secured the compound where Maduro was believed to be located and took both he and Flores into custody.

President Donald Trump publicly confirmed the operation early Saturday morning, saying on social media that both Maduro and his wife had been “successfully captured” and flown out of Venezuela.

Trump described the mission as large in scale and framed it as a critical step in confronting international narcotics networks and criminal activity.

Following capture, reports indicate that Maduro and Flores were transported aboard a U.S. military vessel and later flown to Stewart Airport near New York, placing them in U.S. jurisdiction for legal proceedings.

Charges Filed by the U.S. Attorney General
Shortly after the capture was reported, U.S. Attorney General **Pam Bondi announced that both Maduro and Cilia Flores had been indicted in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.

According to Bondi and subsequent official statements, the charges against Maduro include multiple serious federal offenses, such as:

Narco‑terrorism conspiracy

Cocaine importation conspiracy

Possession of machine guns and destructive devices

Conspiracy to possess such weapons against the United States

Bondi characterized Maduro as a key figure in international narcotics trafficking and vowed that he would “face the full wrath of American justice” in U.S. courts.

She also acknowledged the complexity of the operation and praised U.S. military and law enforcement coordination.

As of the latest official information, specific details on the charges against Cilia Flores have not yet been fully disclosed, though she was included in the indictment — meaning prosecutors are pursuing legal action against both individuals.

Historical Context of the Indictments
Maduro had previously been indicted by U.S. authorities in 2020 on drug trafficking and related criminal charges.

Those earlier charges alleged Maduro and members of his circle participated in international drug trafficking networks that brought cocaine into the United States and supported terrorism and violent crime in the Western Hemisphere.

Despite the existing indictments, Maduro remained in power through years of political conflict, disputed elections, and international sanctions — until the January 3 operation effectively brought him into U.S. custody.

Prosecutors now plan to proceed with a renewed case under U.S. criminal law.

International and Regional Reactions

The U.S. military action and reported capture of a sitting head of state have drawn intense and polarized reactions worldwide, with states and international organizations expressing support, condemnation, or calls for restraint.