By our correspondent
WASHINGTON: The United States has announced criminal charges against Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro following a major military operation in the country.
Speaking to the media, US President Donald Trump said he had ordered a “special operation” in Venezuela’s capital, describing it as a striking display of American air, land, and naval power. Trump said Maduro was brought to face justice and described the mission as “unprecedented and spectacular,” adding that US forces would continue to manage Venezuela until a transfer of power is secured and that American oil companies would enter the country.
Trump also outlined plans for a second phase involving further air strikes, drawing parallels to past US operations against figures such as Qasem Soleimani and Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, as well as attacks on Iran’s nuclear facilities. He claimed all targets were hit with precision and emphasised that no other country could execute such an operation.
Trump said Maduro and his wife were captured during a blackout in Caracas and transported to New York, with the operation employing all branches of the military. Meanwhile, Venezuela’s Vice President has demanded proof of life for both Maduro and his wife, saying officials are unaware of their current whereabouts.
US media reports suggest that Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were apprehended by American forces in their bedroom, highlighting the dramatic nature of the intervention. Trump previously confirmed on social media that the United States had carried out a large-scale assault on Venezuela and its leadership, calling the mission “carefully planned.”
