U.S. President Donald Trump announced that Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro and his wife were captured by U.S. forces just hours after explosions were heard in Caracas, the capital of Venezuela. Trump stated that the operation was successful and that Maduro and his wife were taken out of the country.

Explosions occurred around 02:00 local time in Caracas, with thick smoke rising over the city. Power outages were reported in the southern parts of the capital, near a major military base. Shortly afterward, reports emerged claiming that U.S. forces had carried out air and ground operations across Venezuela.

President Donald Trump said a “large-scale and successful” operation had been conducted in Venezuela, confirming that Nicolas Maduro and his wife had been apprehended. Trump added that Maduro was removed from Venezuelan territory and announced that he would hold a press conference at 19:00 local time (TSI).

Republican U.S. Senator Mike Lee stated that U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told him that Nicolas Maduro had been detained by U.S. forces and would be transferred to the United States to face criminal charges. According to Lee, Rubio said no further military action inside Venezuela was expected since Maduro is now under U.S. custody.

A U.S. Deputy Secretary of State also commented that Nicolas Maduro would “finally pay for his crimes,” a statement widely interpreted as Washington formally backing the operation.

The Venezuelan government responded by demanding proof that Nicolas Maduro and his wife are alive. Officials claimed they do not know their whereabouts and accused the United States of launching attacks aimed at seizing the country’s oil and valuable mineral resources. A nationwide state of emergency was declared.

Colombian President Gustavo Petro said in a social media post, “Caracas is being bombed right now. Missile attacks are being carried out against Venezuela,” calling on the Organization of American States and the United Nations to convene immediately.

Following the explosions and what it described as “ongoing military activity,” the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) banned U.S. commercial flights from Venezuelan airspace.

President Donald Trump had previously escalated pressure on Nicolas Maduro by expanding sanctions and increasing U.S. military presence in the region, repeatedly signaling that ground operations in Venezuela were an option.