U.S. Forces Hit Caracas in Expanded Military Action Against Maduro Regime

Update 2: President Trump is going on Fox News to detail some of what he saw and the planning that went into the mission ahead of press conference later this morning.

Update 1: Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife have been captured and flown out of the country, according to President Donald Trump.

Original Story: U.S. military forces carried out strikes in and around Caracas early Saturday in what appears to be a major escalation of Washington’s campaign against the government of Venezuelan strongman Nicolás Maduro. The action marks the first known instance of direct U.S. strikes inside the Venezuelan capital, dramatically raising the stakes in an already volatile standoff.

Residents across Caracas reported multiple loud explosions shortly after 2 a.m. local time, accompanied by the sound of low-flying aircraft and widespread power outages. Video circulating on social media showed flashes in the sky and smoke rising from several areas of the city. Venezuelan authorities moved quickly to shut down parts of the capital and mobilize emergency services as confusion spread among civilians awakened by the blasts.

According to statements from the Maduro government, the strikes hit military-related sites in Caracas and nearby regions. Venezuelan officials characterized the operation as an act of “foreign military aggression” and accused the United States of deliberately targeting sovereign territory. State media claimed air defense systems were activated and that several installations were damaged, though independent confirmation of specific targets remains limited.

As of publication, U.S. officials had not issued a detailed public briefing outlining the scope of the operation. However, the strikes follow weeks of mounting tension between Washington and Caracas, including stepped-up naval and air activity in the Caribbean and increasingly blunt rhetoric from the White House. President Donald Trump has repeatedly accused the Maduro regime of acting as a narco-state and of facilitating criminal networks that threaten U.S. national security.

Regional reaction was swift. Several Latin American leaders called for emergency diplomatic talks, while others urged restraint amid fears the confrontation could spiral into a broader conflict. Reports indicated that at least one regional government was pushing for an emergency session at the United Nations to address the situation.

Inside Venezuela, Maduro declared a national emergency and urged supporters to remain “mobilized” against what he described as an imperialist attack. Government messaging framed the strikes as an attempt to destabilize the country and seize control of its natural resources, a long-standing narrative used by the regime during past confrontations with Washington.

The events in Caracas represent a sharp departure from previous U.S. actions, which had largely focused on sanctions, maritime interdictions, and limited operations outside Venezuela’s major population centers. Striking the capital signals a willingness by Washington to apply direct military pressure at the heart of the regime’s power base.

The situation remains fluid, with conflicting claims and limited verified information emerging from the ground. Further escalation now hinges on whether the United States confirms and expands the operation, and how the Maduro regime chooses to respond in the coming hours and days.

This is a developing story and will be updated as additional confirmed details become available.