Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has been captured and flown from the country, U.S. President Donald Trump announced early Saturday after confirming that the U.S. forces conducted what he called "a large scale strike against Venezuela and its leader.''
In a post on social media, Trump said Maduro's wife was also seized in the operation conducted along with U.S. law enforcement.
Trump said he planned to deliver a statement later Saturday morning. At least seven explosions rang out and low-flying aircraft swept through the capital of Venezuela early Saturday.
The Maduro government has accused the United States of attacking civilian and military installations following a monthslong pressure campaign.
Venezuela's Vice President Delcy Rodriguez says, "We do not know the whereabouts of President Nicolas Maduro and First Lady Cilia Flores.'' He added: "We demand proof of life.''
The explosions in Caracas, Venezuela's capital, early on the third day of 2026 -- at least seven blasts -- sent people rushing into the streets, while others took to social media to report hearing and seeing the explosions. It was not immediately clear if there were casualties. The apparent attack itself lasted less than 30 minutes, but it was unclear if more actions lay ahead, though Trump said in his post that the strikes were carried out ``successfully.''
Smoke could be seen rising from the hangar of a military base in Caracas, while another military installation in the capital was without power.
"The whole ground shook. This is horrible. We heard explosions and planes,'' said Carmen Hidalgo, a 21-year-old office worker, her voice trembling. She was walking briskly with two relatives, returning from a birthday party. ``We felt like the air was hitting us.''
Venezuela's government responded to the attack with a call to action. "People to the streets!'' it said in a statement. ``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 Maduro had ``ordered all national defense plans to be implemented'' and declared ``a state of external disturbance.'' That state of emergency gives him the power to suspend people's rights and expand the role of the armed forces.
The website of the U.S. Embassy in Venezuela, a post that has been closed since 2019, issued a warning to American citizens in the country, saying it was "aware of reports of explosions in and around Caracas.'' "U.S. citizens in Venezuela should shelter in place,'' the warning said.