Venezuela bombing: Donald Trump confirms military strikes, Maduro ‘captured and flown out’. Who is ruling Venezuela?

The United States carried out what it described as a “large-scale strike” on Venezuela early Saturday, later claiming that President Nicolás Maduro had been captured and flown out of the country following months of intensified pressure from Washington.

US President Donald Trump announced the overnight operation on social media hours after the attack.

Maduro, Trump said, “has been, along with his wife, captured and flown out of the Country. This operation was done in conjunction with U.S. Law Enforcement. Details to follow.” He set a news conference for later Saturday morning. The legal implications of the strike under U.S. law were not immediately clear.

Loud explosions and low-flying aircraft were reported over the capital, Caracas, as Maduro’s government accused the US of targeting both civilian and military facilities. Calling it an “imperialist attack,” the Venezuelan authorities urged citizens to mobilise and take to the streets.

Who is ruling Venezuela?

It was not immediately clear who was running the country, and Maduro's whereabouts were not immediately known. Trump announced the developments on Truth Social shortly after 4:30 a.m. ET. Under Venezuelan law the vice president, Delcy Rodríguez, would take power. There was no confirmation that had happened, though she did issue a statement after the strike.

“We do not know the whereabouts of President Nicolás Maduro and First Lady Cilia Flores,” Rodriguez said. “We demand proof of life.”

Venezuela declares ‘national emergency’

Venezuela rejects “military aggression” by the United States, adding, “the goal of the US attack is to take possession of Venezuelan oil and minerals,” according to a report by Reuters.

Venezuela’s government, in the statement, called on its supporters to take to the streets.

“People to the streets!” the statement said, as reported by AP. “The Bolivarian Government calls on all social and political forces in the country to activate mobilization plans and repudiate this imperialist attack.”

The statement added that President Nicolás Maduro had “ordered all national defense plans to be implemented” and declared “a state of external disturbance.”

Venezuela's government calls for 'mobilisation' of the population after US 'attack', AFP reported.

A CBS journalist said on X, “U.S. President Donald Trump officials are aware of reports of explosions, aircraft over Caracas,” adding, “Trump ordered strikes on sites inside Venezuela, including military facilities.”

Venezuelan President Nicolas Madurosaid on Thursday that he is open to cooperating with Washington following weeks of US military pressure. Meanwhile, witnesses told Reuters that the southern part of the city, near a major military base, was experiencing a power outage.

Watch videos here:

Venezuela's government accused the United States of striking civilian and military sites across several states. Residents in multiple neighbourhoods of Caracas reported hearing gunfire, prompting many to rush into the streets, Bloomberg reported.

“Whole ground shook”

Smoke could be seen rising from the hangar of a military base in Caracas. Another military installation in the capital was without power. People in various neighbourhoods rushed to the streets. Some could be seen in the distance from various areas of Caracas, AP reported.

“The whole ground shook. This is horrible. We heard explosions and planes,” said Carmen Hidalgo, a 21-year-old office worker, her voice trembling, AP reported.

She was walking briskly with two relatives, returning from a birthday party. “We felt like the air was hitting us.”

Trump has repeatedly promised land operations in Venezuela, amid efforts to pressure President Nicolas Maduro to leave office, including expanded sanctions, a ramped-up U.S. military presence in the region and more than two dozen strikes on vessels allegedly involved in trafficking drugs in the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea.

Earlier, Trump said the US had struck and destroyed a docking area used by alleged Venezuelan drug boats. He did not specify whether the operation was carried out by the military or the CIA, nor the exact location, saying only that it took place “along the shore.”

The administration has not provided proof that the targeted boats were engaged in drug trafficking, raising questions about the legality of the operations. According to US military data, the maritime campaign has resulted in at least 107 deaths across 30 strikes, AP reported.

Maduro faces narco-terrorism charges

Maduro faces narco-terrorism charges in the U.S. Last week, the CIA carried out a drone strike on a docking area reportedly used by Venezuelan drug cartels, marking the first known direct U.S. operation on Venezuelan soil since strikes on boats began in September.

Maduro, in an interview with Spanish journalist Ignacio Ramonet, reiterated that the U.S. wants to force a government change in Venezuela and gain access to its vast oil reserves through the monthslong pressure campaign that began with a massive military deployment to the Caribbean Sea in August, AP reported.

“The U.S. government knows, because we’ve told many of their spokespeople, that if they want to seriously discuss an agreement to combat drug trafficking, we’re ready,” he said. “If they want oil, Venezuela is ready for U.S. investment, like with Chevron, whenever they want it, wherever they want it and however they want it.”

(With inputs from agencies…)