White House Confirms Lightning Operation
President Donald Trump announced the mission on his Truth Social account, calling it “a large scale strike against Venezuela and its leader.” He said the raid was executed jointly by U.S. armed forces and domestic law-enforcement agencies. A video posted to the same platform, which could not be independently verified, appeared to show helicopters extracting detainees.
During a later interview on “Fox and Friends Weekend,” Trump said elite Army Delta Force operators spearheaded the action. According to the president, adverse weather delayed the assault for four days, and although “a few injuries” occurred, no U.S. personnel were killed. He added that Maduro and Flores were first transported to the amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima and will next be flown to New York for arraignment.
Targets Across Three States
Residents reported explosions and low-flying aircraft over Caracas, La Guaira and Higuerote. Still images circulating online showed flames at Fuerte Tiuna, the country’s largest military complex, though the authenticity of the footage has not been confirmed. In a broadcast on state television, Vice President Delcy Rodríguez demanded proof that the president and first lady remained alive and accused Washington of seeking control of Venezuela’s oil and mineral resources.
A video posted on Maduro’s official Facebook page claimed U.S. strikes hit the states of Miranda, Aragua and La Guaira. The statement also said the government had declared a national emergency and mobilized defense units. There was no immediate comment from Venezuela’s Ministry of Defense.
Energy Infrastructure Largely Intact
Two sources familiar with Petróleos de Venezuela (SA) operations told Reuters that crude production and refining were unaffected. Key facilities apparently sustained no damage, although the commercial port of La Guaira—an installation not involved in petroleum activities—suffered extensive structural harm.
Imagem: Internet
Political Response in Washington
Senator Mike Lee, a Utah Republican, initially raised constitutional concerns about the strike but later said Secretary of State Marco Rubio assured him the deployment fell under the president’s Article II authority to protect U.S. personnel executing an arrest warrant. Rubio reposted a July 2025 statement asserting that Maduro “is NOT the President of Venezuela” and labeling him head of a criminal cartel.
Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau wrote on X that Maduro would “finally face justice for his crimes.” The Pentagon referred all inquiries to the White House, which reposted Trump’s announcement but made no further comment.
Regional and Historical Context
Colombian President Gustavo Petro called Caracas “under attack” and requested an emergency session of the Organization of American States and the United Nations. Maduro, who succeeded the late Hugo Chávez in 2013, has long accused Washington of plotting to seize Venezuela’s oil reserves—the world’s largest—while U.S. officials have frequently labeled his government a narco-state. In December 2025, Trump ordered a maritime blockade of sanctioned tankers around Venezuela, declaring the country “completely surrounded by the largest Armada ever assembled in the history of South America.”
Opposition leader María Corina Machado’s office said it had no comment on the U.S. operation. Trump told The New York Times the raid was “a brilliant operation” resulting from extensive planning.
The White House has scheduled a press conference for 11 a.m. Eastern Time, where further operational details and legal procedures are expected to be outlined.
Crédito da imagem: Getty Images / AFP
