Venezuela bombing: Armed vehicles spotted at Venezuela-Colombia border after US ‘captures' Maduro

Trump has planned to address from his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida at 11 am EST. Earlier, the POTUS claimed that there were some US injuries sustained during the operation to remove Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro from power, but no fatalities.

South Africa urged the United Nations Security Council, which is responsible for maintaining international peace and security, to convene urgently to address the situation, according to a statement from the country’s Department of International Relations, reported Reuters.

"South Africa views these actions as a manifest violation of the Charter of the United Nations, which mandates that all Member States refrain from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state," it added.

US justice department on Saturday released new indictment of Maduro, his wife Cilia Flores for 'role' in narco-terrorism conspiracy.

The US Federal Aviation Administration on Saturday advised commercial airlines to steer clear of Caribbean airspace, citing a “potentially hazardous situation” amid US military operations aimed at capturing Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, according to AFP.

The notice said the restriction was imposed because of “safety-of-flight risks associated with ongoing military activity.”

Russia urged the United States to release Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, in a statement issued by the Russian foreign ministry on Saturday.

"In light of confirmed reports that Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife are in the United States, we strongly urge the American leadership to reconsider its position and release the legally elected president of a sovereign country and his wife," the ministry said in the statement.

Chinese Foreign Ministry, in a statement said that “China is deeply shocked and strongly condemns the use of force by the US against a sovereign country and the use of force against the president of a country.”

France's Foreign Ministry, in a statement, said that the “military operation which led to capture of Venezuela's Maduro goes against principles of international law.”

Donald Trump claimed that Maduro and his wife are aboard a US warship and will face prosecution in New York, reported AP.

Following the bombing, US issued a ‘Level 4’ Travel Advisory following its ‘large scale strike' against Venezuela, warning Americans against traveling to the South American nation, citing the risk of "wrongful detention, torture in detention, terrorism, kidnapping, arbitrary enforcement of local laws, crime, civil unrest, and poor health infrastructure."

With Maduro removed from power and facing US criminal charges, attention has rapidly shifted to who could lead Venezuela through a political transition — and whether Machado is positioned to take that role. The Nobel Peace Prize winner has been the most prominent face of Venezuela’s opposition movement in recent years, galvanising support amid widespread anger over economic collapse, mass migration and political repression.

Following the strike, US President Donald Trump claimed that there were few injuries during the ‘large scale strike’ and that no deaths have been reported.

US Attorney General Pamela Bondi said Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores have been indicted in New York on narco-terrorism, cocaine trafficking, and weapons charges, adding they will face trial in US courts. Read here

US Vice President, JD Vance reposted Trump's post on Truth Social, claiming that the POTUS had “offered multiple off ramps, but was very clear throughout this process: the drug trafficking must stop, and the stolen oil must be returned to the United States.” Hailing the ‘strike’, Vance claimed “Maduro is the newest person to find out that President Trump means what he says.”

US Army's Delta Force captured Maduro and his wife, reported CBS News, citing sources. Founded in 1977 and based at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, Delta Force is one of the most elite and secretive military units in the world.
The elite Army Delta Force was also responsible for the 2019 mission that killed former Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.

Speaking about the US attacks on Venezuela, Brazil President Lula da Silva said: “These acts represent a grave affront to Venezuela's sovereignty and yet another extremely dangerous precedent for the entire international community.”

Pam Bondi, in a post on X, said that Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores were charged in the Southern District of New York, which is the same jurisdiction that handed down the 2020 indictment against the Venezuelan president. The Venezuelan First Lady was not previously charged.

Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez said the government is unaware of the whereabouts of Maduro and First Lady Cilia Flores, adding the US attack has cost the lives of officials, military personnel and civilians across the country, reported CNN.

US Attorney General Pam Bondi said Nicolas Maduro will “soon face the full wrath of American justice on American soil in American courts” after he was arrested in Venezuela.

The Russian Foreign Ministry called for “immediate clarification” on the situation in Venezuela following Trump's announcement that the US has captured and removed President Nicolas Maduro and his wife from the country.
“We are extremely concerned by reports that Venezuelan President Maduro and his wife were forcibly removed from the country during today’s aggressive actions by the United States. We call for immediate clarification of this situation,” Russian foreign ministry said in a statement

Top European Union diplomat Kaja Kallas reportedly said that she had spoken with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the EU's ambassador in Caracas. Kallas said EU was "closely monitoring the situation" and noted that it had “repeatedly stated that Mr. Maduro lacks legitimacy,” reported CBS News.

Cilia Flores, wife of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, has long been one of the most influential figures within the country’s ruling establishment. Along with Maduro, she was captured by US forces on Saturday

UK PM Keir Starmer said that he wants to speak to President Donald Trump and allies about what has happened in Venezuela.

For months, Trump had warned that he might soon authorise strikes on Venezuelan targets after repeated attacks on boats alleged to be transporting drugs. Since early September, the US military has been targeting vessels in the Caribbean Sea and the eastern Pacific Ocean. By Friday, the Trump administration stated that 35 strikes had occurred, resulting in at least 115 deaths.

The US carried out a large strike in Venezuela's Caracas and flew President Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores out of the country, President Donald Trump said on Monday. Cilia Flores was born on October 15, 1956, in Tinaquillo, a small city in northwestern Venezuela.

Colombian President Gustavo Petro posted a video of civilian casualty following the US strikes in Venezuela. Livemint, however, could not independently verify the authencity of the video.

Following the ‘large scale’ strike by US, several world leaders have criticised Washington's move. Cuba's President Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez strongly condemned the US attack on social media, calling it a “criminal attack” against Venezuela and urging the international community to respond quickly.

Republican Senator Mike Lee of Utah posted on X, that during his call with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, he had told that he "anticipates no further action in Venezuela now that Maduro is in U.S. custody."

Republican Senator Mike Lee of Utah posted on X that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio had told him he "anticipates no further action in Venezuela now that Maduro is in US custody."

Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López announced a deployment of military forces across the country in a video posted on social media today. He said all armed forces would be deployed following "Maduro's orders" — but made no mention of Maduro's reported capture, reported CBS News

Russia condemned the US military action in Venezuela, saying there was no tenable justification for the attack and that "ideological hostility" had prevailed over diplomacy.

Donald Trump has announced a press conference at his Mar-a-Lago residence after claiming that American forces carried out large-scale strikes in Venezuela and captured President Nicolas Maduro and his wife.

Following the US attacks on Venezuela, market experts anticipate a gap-up opening for crude oil, gold, and silver prices. However, they stated that Venezuela's economy is not large enough, and therefore, this geopolitical tension is unlikely to have a significant impact on the Indian stock market, and it is expected to remain stable.

In August, the US had offered a $50m reward for information leading to the arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, doubling an earlier reward of $25m set by the Trump administration in January.

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro was captured by members of Delta Force, the U.S. military's top special mission unit, as per US officials, reported CBC News. The elite Army Delta Force was also responsible for the 2019 mission that killed former Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi

The Venezuelan opposition reportedly said it has no official comment regarding the ongoing situation in the country. “At this moment, there is no official statement regarding the events reported in Venezuela. Any confirmed information will be disseminated in a timely manner through official channels,” Venezuela opposition said, as per a statement.

A resident of the coastal Venezuelan town of Higuerote told CNN he was jolted awake by sounds he first mistook for fireworks, before a series of explosions rippled across the area, lighting up the sky in red as frightened neighbours ran outside, screaming.

Shortly after the US launched strikes in Venezuela, Democratic Senator Ruben Gallego of Arizona posted on X, calling the action illegal. “This war is illegal,” he wrote. The US Marine Corps veteran, who previously served in Iraq, described it as the “Second unjustified war" he had witnessed

The U.S. has warned its citizens against traveling to Venezuela for months, citing the risk of "wrongful detention, torture in detention, terrorism, kidnapping, arbitrary enforcement of local laws, crime, civil unrest, and poor health infrastructure."

The State Department warned US citizens in Venezuela to shelter in place early Saturday morning. In a notice posted on its website, the department said the US Embassy in Bogota, Colombia, was "aware of reports of explosions in and around Caracas, Venezuela."

The State Department warned US citizens in Venezuela to shelter in place early Saturday morning. In a notice posted on its website, the department said the US Embassy in Bogota, Colombia, was "aware of reports of explosions in and around Caracas, Venezuela."

Venezuela will resist the presence of foreign troops, Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino said in a video earlier today, as Trump said Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro had been captured and was being removed from the country.

Following the strikes, Trump posted on Truth Social that the “large scale strike” was done in conjunction with US Law Enforcement. “United States of America has successfully carried out a large scale strike against Venezuela and its Leader. President Nicolas Maduro, who has been, along with his wife, captured and flown out of the country,” said Trump

US President Donald Trump confirmed that the" US has successfully carried out a large scale strike," and said that President Nicolas Maduro, who was along with his wife – has been captured and flown out of the country

Iran condemned the military attack on Venezuela “as blatant violation of its national sovereignty and territorial integrity.”

President of Colombia, Gustavo Petro said: "Right now they are bombing Caracas. Alert to the whole world, they have attacked Venezuela. They are bombing with missiles. The OAS and the UN must meet immediately"

A 21-year-old office worker, Carmen Hidalgo recounted details of the bombing. “The whole ground shook. This is horrible. We heard explosions and planes,” she told AFP. “We felt like the air was hitting us.”

As per reports, the strikes lasted less than 30 minutes. Two hours later, parts of the city remained without power, but vehicles moved freely.

US Embassy in Venezuela says explosions reported, and has advised citizens to not to travel to the nation.

The Venezuelan government declared a “national emergency” after at least seven explosions and low-flying aircraft were heard around 2 a.m. local time in Venezuela’s capital. US is carrying out strikes inside Venezuela, a US official reportedly said. Read here

Federal Aviation Administration has banned US commercial flights in the Venezuelan airspace over what it described as “ongoing military activity” ahead of explosions in Caracas.