The skyline of Caracas, usually a cradle of mountain shadows and city lights, was transformed early Saturday morning by the orange glow of explosions and the heavy scent of smoke. In a move that has sent shockwaves across the globe, the United States launched a large-scale military strike against Venezuela, resulting in the capture of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.
The Operation: A Precision Strike
Under the shroud of darkness on January 3, 2026, the U.S. Army’s elite Delta Force—the same unit responsible for the mission against ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi—conducted a high-stakes operation to apprehend Maduro. President Trump later confirmed via social media that the Venezuelan leader had been “captured and flown out of the Country” to face justice on American soil.
Witnesses in the Venezuelan capital described sounds “stronger than thunder” that made homes vibrate. While the city has since fallen into a tense silence, the tactical precision of the strikes was evident, targeting key military hubs like Fuerte Tiuna and La Carlota airbase, as well as the strategic La Guaira Port.
Why Now? Years of Building Tension
While the world may be surprised by the speed of these events, the foundation for this operation was laid over months of escalating pressure.
- Legal Charges: Maduro was indicted by U.S. courts in 2020 on charges of narco-terrorism and drug trafficking, with the U.S. government alleging he used cocaine as a “weapon” against the United States.
- Economic & Military Pressure: The capture follows a massive naval buildup in the Caribbean—the largest since the Cold War—and a “total and complete blockade” of Venezuelan oil tankers.
- The Bounty: Last summer, the U.S. administration doubled the reward for information leading to Maduro’s arrest to $50 million.
History Echoes: The Noriega Parallel
In a striking coincidence, Maduro’s capture occurred exactly 35 years to the day after U.S. forces arrested Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega on January 3, 1990. Like Noriega, Maduro had recently claimed victory in a disputed election and faced heavy accusations of drug trafficking from Washington.
A Nation in “External Commotion”
Back in Venezuela, the atmosphere is one of defiance and emergency. Vice President Delcy Rodriguez has demanded “proof of life” for the presidential couple, stating their current whereabouts remain unknown. Meanwhile, Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López has declared a “state of external commotion”—essentially a state of emergency—and ordered the military to deploy in resistance against what he termed “imperialist aggression”.
The Road Ahead: Uncertainty and Debate
As the dust settles over the Caribbean, many questions remain unanswered. While some U.S. officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, anticipate “no further action” now that Maduro is in custody, others are questioning the legality of the strike.
Democratic Senator Ruben Gallego labeled the action an “illegal war,” while Republican Senator Mike Lee expressed skepticism regarding the constitutional justification for the strikes without a formal declaration of war.
As the world waits for a scheduled press conference at Mar-a-Lago, the future of Venezuela hangs in the balance. Will this pave the way for opposition leaders like Nobel Peace Prize winner Maria Corina Machado, or will it lead to further destabilization in a region already on edge?.
The story of Venezuela is turning a new, albeit uncertain, page.
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