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

The Brooklyn jail holding Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro is a facility so troubled, some judges have refused to send people there even as it has housed such famous inmates as music stars R. Kelly.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday publicly endorsed the United States' actions concerning Venezuela, stating that the Israeli government fully supports Washington's move, which he described as aimed at restoring freedom and justice in the country.

"Regarding Venezuela, I want to express the entire Government's support for the determined decision and action of the United States to restore freedom and justice to that part of the world as well," Netanyahu said in a post on X.

Placing the developments in a broader regional context, the Israeli Prime Minister said Latin America is currently witnessing a shift in political alignments.

"I must say that across Latin America right now, we are seeing a transformation; several countries are returning to the American axis and, not surprisingly, to a connection with the State of Israel," he said.

Welcoming this shift, Netanyahu congratulated US President Donald Trump and praised the American military for its role.

"We welcome this. We congratulate President @realDonaldTrump on his decision. We also salute the American military forces who carried out a perfect operation. We know how to appreciate such things," he added.

Armed military vehicles were seen moving near the Venezuela–Colombia border following a US operation that led to the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.

The United States advised airlines on Saturday that its Caribbean airspace curbs would expire at midnight ET (0500 GMT) and flights could resume as schedules are quickly updated, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said.

The comments on X followed the cancelation of hundreds of flights by major airlines after the U.S. attack on Venezuela and the capture of its president, Nicolas Maduro.

Key carriers United Airlines, American Airlines and Delta were readying to resume flights to the Caribbean by Sunday.

In a statement, United said a flight to San Juan in Puerto Rico was planned for Saturday night, adding, "We expect to operate most scheduled flights to the region for Sunday."

In the wake of the strikes in Venezuela, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Sunday said that Japan stands ready to closely coordinate with G7 countries and the regional partners to advance diplomatic efforts toward the restoration of democracy in the South American country.

In a post on X on Sunday, she said the Japanese government is prioritising the safety of Japanese nationals while closely coordinating with relevant countries to address the situation.

She added, "Regarding the situation in Venezuela, the Japanese government has consistently emphasised the importance of restoring democracy in Venezuela as soon as possible."

A US-led takeover or restructuring of Venezuela's oil sector could deliver a direct benefit to India, potentially unlocking close to USD 1 billion in long-pending dues while accelerating the revival of crude production from fields it operates in the sanctions-hit Latin American nation, analysts and industry sources said, according to news agency PTI.

India was once a major processor of Venezuelan heavy crude, importing more than 4,00,000 barrels per day at peak levels, until sweeping US sanctions and rising compliance risks forcibly shut down purchases in 2020.

“The recent developments in Venezuela are a matter of deep concern. We are closely monitoring the evolving situation. India reaffirms its support to the well-being and safety of the people of Venezuela,” the Ministry of External Affairs wrote on Sunday.

“We call upon all concerned to address issues peacefully through dialogue, ensuring peace and stability of the region. The Embassy of India in Caracas is in contact with members of the Indian community and will continue to provide all possible assistance,” it added.

Tesla and SpaceX chief Elon Musk on Sunday announced that his Starlink network of satellites would provide free broadband services to the people of Venezuela for a month to ensure continued connectivity.

"In support of the people of Venezuela," Musk said on X, sharing a post by Starlink on the announcement.

A harsh critic of Maduro, Musk had earlier celebrated the capture of the Venezuelan President in a US military operation sanctioned by President Donald Trump, saying that Venezuela would finally prosper with Maduro gone.

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“This is not about drugs or democracy. It is about oil and Donald Trump’s desire to play the regional strongman. If he cared about either, he wouldn’t pardon a convicted drug trafficker or sideline Venezuela’s legitimate opposition while pursuing deals with Maduro’s cronies,” former US Vice President Kamala Harris wrote in a post on X.

Revelers chanted “liberty” and draped Venezuelan flags over their shoulders in South Florida on Saturday to celebrate the U.S. military operation to capture Nicolás Maduro and remove him from the country — a stunning outcome they had longed for but left them wondering what comes next in their troubled homeland.

US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said on Saturday the restrictions around the Caribbean airspace would expire at midnight ET (0500 GMT) and flights could resume.

Airlines were informed and will update their schedules quickly, Duffy posted on X.

European Union President Ursula von der Leyen said the EU is closely following the situation in Venezuela and supports a peaceful and democratic transition, and also, with EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, is working in coordination with the EU Member States for any support for the EU citizens in Venezuela. She said that any solution must respect international law and the UN Charter.

The Constitutional Chamber of Venezuela's Supreme Court ordered on Saturday that Vice President Delcy Rodríguez assume the role of acting president of the country in the absence of Nicolás Maduro, who was “captured” early Saturday morning in an operation by US forces.

Delcy Rodríguez, 56, is a Caracas native born on May 18, 1969. She is the daughter of Jorge Antonio Rodríguez, a left-wing guerrilla fighter who founded the revolutionary Liga Socialista party in the 1970s. Read more about her here

The Constitutional Chamber of Venezuela's Supreme Court on Saturday ordered Vice President Delcy Rodríguez to assume the role of acting President following Maduro's capture.

The ruling added that the court will debate the matter in order to “determine the applicable legal framework to guarantee the continuity of the State, the administration of government, and the defense of sovereignty in the face of the forced absence of the President of the Republic,” reported Reuters.

Trump had earlier signalled that he was open to dealing with Rodriguez, saying that the US would not send troops if she was willing to cooperate.

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Captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, upon being taken to the DEA office in New York City, was captured on camera saying, “Good night! Happy New Year.”

Despite the success of the risky US operation on Venezuelan soil, what happens next is highly uncertain.

Trump said he was "designating people" from his cabinet to be in charge in Venezuela, but gave no detail of how this would work.

Trump also indicated US troops could be deployed in Venezuela in the future, saying Washington was "not afraid of boots on the ground."

However, he appeared to reject the possibility of the country's repressed opposition taking power and said he could work instead with Maduro's vice president, Delcy Rodriguez.

At least 40 people, including military personnel and civilians, were killed in the US attack on Venezuela early Saturday, a senior Venezuelan official told The New York Times while describing preliminary reports.

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Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, who were captured on Saturday by US forces after Donald Trump greenlit the operation, arrived at the Stewart Air National Guard Base in New York on Saturday night local time.

Videos posted on social media showed a handcuffed Maduro stepping out of the plane before being escorted to a hangar by dozens of security personnel.

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Venezuela’s Vice President Delcy Rodríguez demanded that the US release Nicolás Maduro, calling him the country’s rightful leader.

Rodríguez spoke in a televised address to the nation, aiming to reassure ruling party supporters.

She left the door open for dialogue with the United States, emphasizing the need for respectful relations.

Rodríguez stated, “Here, we have a government with clarity… we are willing to have respectful relations,” referring to the Trump administration.

She added that respectful relations are the only condition acceptable after the US actions against Venezuela.

US President Donald Trump told The New York Post that US troops would not be deployed on the ground in Venezuela if Vice President Delcy Rodríguez “does what we want.”

When asked if US troops would “be on the ground helping run the country,” Trump responded: “No, if Maduro’s vice president… does what we want, we won’t have to do that.”

Trump emphasized that he and his team have spoken to Delcy Rodríguez multiple times, and she “understands” the expectations of the US.

Trump confirmed he did not discuss Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro during his recent call with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

He expressed that he is “not thrilled” with Putin.

When asked if he was angry with Putin, Trump replied: “He's killing too many people.”

Trump also stated he is “not happy” about the number of casualties in the war in Ukraine.

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth praised Trump’s leadership in overseeing the Venezuela operation.

He described the military and law enforcement raid as “flawlessly executed.”

Trump was characterized as “deadly serious” about stopping gangs, violence, and drug trafficking.

Hegseth referenced Maduro and Iran, saying: “He effed around and he found out.”

He concluded with a statement of confidence: “Welcome to 2026, and under President Trump, America is back.”

It would be “very tough” for Venezuela’s opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize winner María Corina Machado to become president, Trump said.

“She doesn’t have the support or the respect within the country. She’s a very nice woman, but she doesn’t have the respect,” he added.

"Unilaterally attacking a sovereign nation is an act of war and a violation of federal and international law," New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

"This blatant pursuit of regime change doesn’t just affect those abroad, it directly impacts New Yorkers, including tens of thousands of Venezuelans who call this city home. My focus is their safety and the safety of every New Yorker, and my administration will continue to monitor the situation and issue relevant guidance," Mamdani added.

US President Donald Trump posted a series of photographs on his Truth Social account on Saturday afternoon (January 3).

The images appeared to show Trump and senior US officials monitoring the military operation targeting Venezuela.

Trump was seen seated at a conference table alongside top aides and national security officials.

Officials visible in the photos included CIA Director John Ratcliffe, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, and others.

The images suggested the group was watching live operational feeds as the strikes unfolded.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Nicolas Maduro was indicted by the United States in 2020 and remains a fugitive of American justice, reiterating Washington’s long-standing refusal to recognise him as Venezuela’s legitimate president.

“Nicolas Maduro was indicted in 2020, in the United States,” Rubio said. “He is not the legitimate president of Venezuela.”

“That’s not just us saying it. The first Trump administration, the Biden administration, the second Trump administration — none of those three recognised him,” he said.

“He’s not recognised by the European Union and multiple countries around the world,” Rubio said.

Rubio described Maduro as a wanted figure under US law, pointing to the long-standing reward on his head. “He is a fugitive of American justice with a $50 million reward,” Rubio said. Joking about the outcome, Rubio added, “I guess we saved $50 million.”

The military operation involved a massive coordinated deployment, says General Dan Caine, chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff.

“The operation involved more than 150 aircraft launching across the Western Hemisphere in close coordination.”

Caine detailed the types of aircraft used:

“The Force included F-22s, F-35s, F-18s, EA-18s, E-2s, B-1 bombers, and other support aircraft, as well as numerous remotely piloted drones.”

General Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, described Operation Absolute Resolve as the result of extensive preparation:

“This operation, known as Operation Absolute Resolve ... was the culmination of months of planning and rehearsal.”

He added that such missions may be conducted again in the future:

“There is always a chance that we'll be tasked to do this type of mission again.”

US President Donald Trump claimed that Venezuela’s Vice President Delcy Rodriguez was “just sworn in” as president following the capture of Nicolás Maduro by US forces.

The Venezuelan government has not officially announced that Rodriguez has taken office.

According to Trump, Rodriguez has expressed that she is “willing to do what we think is necessary to make Venezuela great again.”

Trump indicated that major US oil firms would enter Venezuela to restore the country’s oil production.

“We're going to have our very large United States oil companies, the biggest anywhere in the world, go in, spend billions of dollars, fix the badly broken infrastructure, the oil infrastructure, and start making money for the country.”

Trump described the conditions during the operation, highlighting its stealth and effectiveness.

“It was dark. The lights of Caracas were largely turned off due to a certain expertise that we have,” he said.

“It was dark. It was deadly.”

Trump emphasized that no American lives or equipment were lost during the operation.

“Not a single American service member was killed, and not a single piece of American equipment was lost,” he said.

“We had many helicopters, many planes, many, many people involved in that fight.”

“No nation in the world could achieve what America achieved yesterday.”

Trump described the military operation as one of the most powerful demonstrations of US military strength in history.

“Late last night and early today, at my direction, the United States Armed Forces conducted an extraordinary military operation in the capital of Venezuela, overwhelming American military power,” he said.

“Air, land and sea was used to launch a spectacular assault. And it was an assault like people have not seen since World War Two.”

“This was one of the most stunning, effective and powerful displays of American military might and competence in American history.”

Trump described the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro during the overnight raid, claiming that the country’s military forces were neutralized.

“All Venezuelan military capacities were rendered powerless. As the men and women of our military working with U.S. law enforcement, successfully captured Maduro in the dead of night.”

“It was dark. The lights of Caracas were largely turned off. It was dark and it was deadly.”

He added that Maduro and his wife would now face justice in the United States.

Venezuela bombing LIVE updates: US President Donald Trump said that he is not ‘thrilled’ with Putin amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict. He also reiterated that the war should not have broken out in the first place.

“I'm not thrilled with Putin… I settled the war, but then they broke out. They had a pretty bad breakout over the last four days. I got him to go back to peace. So I only give one quarter. I thought the easiest one would be one of the easier ones would be Russia, Ukraine. It's not and they both have done some pretty bad things,” said Trump, responding to a question on Saturday.

Donald Trump also clarified that Putin and Trump had no conversation about Venezuela before Saturday's attack.

Venezuela bombing LIVE updates: US President Donald Trump said that the federal government plans to run Venezuela professionally and not leave and let the country go to ‘hell’.

“We're going to have this done. We're not going to just do this, then leave like everybody else, and let it go to hell. If we just leave, there is a zero chance of ever coming back; we'll run it properly!” said Trump.

“We'll run it professionally, we'll have the greatest oil companies in the world going in as billions and billions of dollars, and take that money. Use that money in Venezuela. And the biggest beneficiary is going to be the people of Venezuela,” Trump said in his media address.

Venezuela bombing LIVE updates: Trump administration officials said that the attack on Venezuela was an arrest of two indicted fugitives, and it was not a mission to notify Congress beforehand because it endangers the same.

“It's just simply not the kind of mission you can call people and say, hey, we may do this at some point in the next 15 days, but it's largely a law enforcement function. Remember, at the end of the day, at its core, this was an arrest of two indicted fugitives of American Justice, and the Department of War supported the Department of Justice but it's just not the kind of pre-notify because it endangers the mission,” said Trump's panel during the media address.

Venezuela bombing LIVE updates: US President Donald Trump plans to rebuild the oil infrastructure of Venezuela with the money flowing directly from the oil companies in America.

Trump also said that he will run Venezuela with a ‘group.’

“We're going to be running it with a group, and we're going to make sure it's run properly. We're going to rebuild the oil infrastructure, billions of dollars, it will be paid for by the oil companies, directly,” said Trump in his address.

Venezuela bombing LIVE updates: Chairman Dan ‘Razin’ Caine, the 22nd Chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, said that one aircraft was hit during the mission. However, it remained flyable and successfully came back home.

“One of our aircraft was hit but remained flyable, and as the President said earlier today, all our aircraft came home, and that aircraft remained flyable during the rest of the mission,” said ‘Razin’ Caine.

Venezuela bombing LIVE updates: Chairman Dan ‘Razin’ Caine, the 22nd Chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, said that nearly 150 aircraft were involved in the operation.

“It involved more than 150 aircraft across the western hemisphere in close coordination, all coming together in time and play to layer effects for a single purpose to get an interdiction for downtown Caracas, while maintaining the element of tactical surprise,” said ‘Razin’ Caine.

Venezuela bombing LIVE updates: US President Donald Trump, during his address, said that the embargo on all Venezuelan oil remains in full effect, while the United States remains in position until the country's demands are met.

“The embargo on all Venezuelan oil remains in full effect. The American Armada remains poised in position, and the United States retains all military options until United States demands have been fully met and fully satisfied. All political and military figures in Venezuela should understand what happened to Maduro can happen to them, and it will happen to them if they aren't just there, even to their people,” said Trump in his address.

Venezuela bombing LIVE updates: US President Donald Trump, in his media address, threatened the terrorists and criminals and said that he will never allow them to operate with impunity against the United States.

“We will secure our borders. We'll stop the terrorists, we will crash the cartels, and we will defend our citizens against all threats, foreign and domestic other presidents may have lacked the courage or whatever to defend America, but I will never allow terrorists and criminals to operate with impunity against the United States,” said Trump in his media address.

Venezuela bombing LIVE updates: US President Donald Trump, during his media address, said that Venezuela President Nicolas Maduro and his wife are set to face a ‘full night’ of American Justice and will stand trial on US soil.

“Maduro and his wife will soon face the full night of American justice and stand trial on American soil,” said Trump in his media address.

Venezuela bombing LIVE updates: US President Donald Trump, in his media address, said that the US was prepared to carry out a second round of military strikes. However, the first attack was ‘so successful’ that they did not need to launch a second.

“We actually assumed that a second wave would be necessary, but now that the first attack was so successful, we probably don't have to do a second, but we're prepared to do a second wave, a much bigger wave, actually,” said Trump in his media address after Saturday's attack.

Venezuela bombing LIVE updates: US President Donald Trump, during his Mar-a-Lago club address, said, ‘We are going to run the country…’

Venezuela bombing LIVE updates: US President Donald Trump, in his recent TruthSocial post, shared the first photo of Venezuela President Nicolas Maduro on board the USS Iwo Jima after his arrest on 3 January 2026.

Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez — Maduro’s presumptive successor — was reportedly in Russia, sources familiar with her movements said. Russia's foreign ministry, however, said the report that Rodriguez is in Russia was "fake."