*Trump says US will run oil-rich country for now Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia were captured by an elite Delta Force unit of the United States yesterday while they slept in their beds.
Maduro will stand trial in New York City on drugs and weapons charges, according to United States President Donald Trump, CNN reported.
Addressing newsmen in Washington after the operation, Trump said the US would run Venezuela until such time they could do a “safe, proper and judicious transition.”
No US troops or equipment were lost in the military operation, Trump said, describing it as highly effective and involved extensive US military assets. More than 150 aircraft were deployed in the mission, said Gen. Dan Caine, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
“US oil companies will fix Venezuela’s broken infrastructure and start making money for the country,” he added.
He said no US serviceman was killed in the operation and the US was ready to stage a second and much larger attack on the country if needed.
A source said the operation which struck five Venezuelan sites including three in the capital Caracas did not result in any casualty.
President Trump said the Maduros were taken to the USS Iwo Jima assault ship and transported to New York City.
He hailed the operation as ‘brilliant’ in a brief New York Times interview.
Explosions were seen ripping across Caracas during the daring raid, with Venezuelan Attorney General Tarek Saab saying that ‘innocents’ had been ‘mortally wounded’ by the operation.
The US president added the pair had been indicted in New York.
“They killed a lot of people and a lot of American people, even people in their own country,” Trump said.
Attorney General Pam Bondi said he had been indicted in New York on drugs and weapons charges and would “face the full wrath of American justice on American soil in American courts”
“My heart was pumping and legs were shaking,” an eyewitness in Caracas told the BBC as footage showed huge plumes of smoke rising over the city.
The strikes followed weeks of heightened tension as Trump ramped up pressure on Maduro
Asked if he would support opposition leader Maria Corina Machado – who is currently in Norway – to take over Venezuela, Trump tells Fox News “we’re going to have to look at it right now”.
“They (Venezuela) have a vice president, as you know,” he said, “I don’t know what kind of an election that was, but, you know, the election of Maduro was a disgrace.”
“Maduro’s capture sends a signal we’re not going to be we’re not going to be pushed around anymore,” Trump said.
He alleged the US was losing hundreds of thousands of people a year to drugs, adding, “We’re not going to allow it anymore with this.”
The security-conscious Maduros were having their location tracked by the CIA in the days leading up to their capture, CNN reported.
Sir Keir Starmer said the UK was not involved in ‘any way’ in the airstrikes in Venezuela.
Keir said the UK was not part of the operation, adding that he wanted to speak to Trump to find out more information.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro wrote in a series of statements posted on the social media platform X.; “The Republic of Colombia reiterates its conviction that peace, respect for international law, and the protection of life and human dignity must prevail over any form of armed confrontation,” Petro said.
In a separate post, he said Colombia “rejects the aggression against the sovereignty of Venezuela and of Latin America”. Petro later announced the deployment of military forces to the Venezuelan border.
From Cuba President Miguel Diaz-Canel issued a sharply worded condemnation on social media, accusing Washington of carrying out a “criminal attack” against Venezuela and calling for an urgent international response.
In a post on X, Diaz-Canel said Cuba’s so-called “zone of peace” was being “brutally assaulted”, describing the US action as “state terrorism” directed not only at the Venezuelan people but at “Our America” more broadly.
In a statement posted on X, Chilean President Gabriel Boric Font expressed his government’s “concern and condemnation” of the US military actions in Venezuela.
“We call for seeking a peaceful solution to the serious crisis affecting the country,” he said.
“Earlier this morning, Saturday 3rd January 2026, the United States commenced military operations within the territory of Venezuela. Trinidad and Tobago is NOT a participant in any of these ongoing military operations. Trinidad and Tobago continues to maintain peaceful relations with the people of Venezuela,” Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar said in a statement.
In a statement posted on X, Iran Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei wrote, “What’s important is when one realises an enemy wants to force something on one’s govt. or nation with false claims, they must stand firmly against that enemy. We won’t give in to them. With reliance on God & confidence in the people’s support, we’ll bring the enemy to its knees.”
In a separate statement, Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it “strongly condemns the American military attack on Venezuela and the flagrant violation of the national sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country”.
Moscow is deeply concerned and condemned an “act of armed aggression” against Venezuela committed by the US, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said. “In the current situation, it is important … to prevent further escalation and to focus on finding a way out of the situation through dialogue,” the ministry said in a statement.
The ministry said “Venezuela must be guaranteed the right to determine its own destiny without any destructive, military intervention from outside. We reaffirm our solidarity with the Venezuelan people and our support for its leadership’s policy of defending the country’s national interests and sovereignty, ” it added.
EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas said she has spoken with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the EU ambassador in Caracas regarding the latest developments in Venezuela.
“The EU is closely monitoring the situation in Venezuela,” Kallas said in a statement on X.
“The EU has repeatedly stated that Mr Maduro lacks legitimacy and has defended a peaceful transition. Under all circumstances, the principles of international law and the UN Charter must be respected. We call for restraint. The safety of EU citizens in the country is our top priority.”
Spain called for de-escalation, moderation and respect for international law in Venezuela, the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement. It also offered itself as a negotiator to help find a peaceful solution in Venezuela.
In a statement to AFP news agency, Germany’s foreign ministry said it is “monitoring the situation in Venezuela very closely and following the latest reports with great concern.”
“The foreign ministry is in close contact with the embassy in Caracas,” Berlin said adding that the government’s crisis team was in session and is “coordinating closely with our partners.”
Italy Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said she was “closely monitoring the situation in Venezuela”, also with an aim of “gathering information about our fellow citizens” in the country. Meloni added she was in constant contact with Italy’s Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani. About 160,000 Italians currently live in Venezuela, most of them with dual citizenship.
Indonesia is monitoring developments in Venezuela to ensure the safety of its citizens, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Yvonne Mewengkang said.
“Indonesia also calls on all relevant parties to prioritize peaceful resolution through de-escalation and dialogue, while prioritizing the protection of civilians. Indonesia emphasizes the importance of respecting international law and the principles of the UN Charter.”
