Shortly after seven o'clock, local time in Sweden, on Saturday, January 3, several international news agencies reported explosions, low-flying aircraft and gunfire in the Venezuelan capital, Caracas.
A few hours later, US President Donald Trump himself confirmed the information on Truth Social.
“The United States has successfully carried out a large-scale attack on Venezuela and its leader, President Nicolás Maduro, who, along with his wife, has been captured and taken out of the country,” he wrote.
Speaking on state-controlled television, Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez accused the United States of killing several people in the attack and said the country had mobilized its defenses. Rodriguez also said they did not know the whereabouts of Maduro and his wife and demanded proof that they were alive.
Donald Trump said the presidential couple were aboard a US warship and would be taken to New York, where they would stand trial. Shortly before 5:30 p.m., local time in Sweden, Trump posted a picture of Maduro in handcuffs, a blindfold, earmuffs and gray tracksuits. According to the post, Maduro was aboard the amphibious assault ship Iwo Jima.
US Attorney General Pamela Bondi stated that Maduro is accused, among other things, of plotting or preparing for what is called "narcoterrorism", but also of drug smuggling and various types of weapons crimes targeting the United States.
Trump said at a press conference that the United States would take over the government of Venezuela “until we can carry out a safe, orderly and lawful transition of power” to what he considers a legitimate government. He said the United States was prepared to carry out a second, much larger, attack on the country if necessary.
Trump said the United States would also, together with American oil companies, take over Venezuela's oil industry and production, which he said had been mismanaged. However, he said the oil embargo on Venezuelan oil would remain in effect.
The outside world was closely monitoring the situation. The EU called on the US to exercise restraint and to comply with international law and the principles of the UN Charter, Foreign Minister Kaja Kallas said.
Several countries condemned the US's actions, while Argentina, Israel and Italy, among others, defended the US.
