North Korea denounces Maduro’s capture
North Korea has condemned the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro as a “serious violation of Venezuela’s sovereignty,” AFP reported.
Maduro must also answer for “crimes against humanity,” UN mission says
The illegality of the U.S. military operation in Venezuela should not prevent President Nicolas Maduro from being held accountable for serious human rights violations and crimes against humanity committed under his rule, a United Nations fact-finding mission said.
The mission, mandated in 2019 by the U.N. Human Rights Council but speaking independently of the U.N., said in a statement that Maduro must answer for violations including extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances and torture.
“The long-standing record of serious human rights violations by the Maduro government cannot justify a U.S. military intervention that violates international law,” said Alex Neve, a member of the mission. “Likewise, the illegality of the U.S. attack in no way diminishes the clear responsibility of Venezuelan officials, including Mr. Maduro, for years of repression and violence amounting to crimes against humanity. The Venezuelan people demand and deserve solutions fully consistent with international law.”
Vice president to assume interim powers
Venezuela’s Supreme Court on Saturday ordered Vice President Delcy Rodriguez to assume interim presidential powers following Maduro’s capture by the United States.
The court’s constitutional chamber ruled that Rodriguez would “assume and exercise all the powers, duties and responsibilities inherent to the office of president of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela to ensure administrative continuity and the comprehensive defense of the nation.”
The judges have not declared Maduro permanently absent, a step that would have triggered early elections within 30 days.
UN Security Council to meet Monday
The U.N. Security Council will hold a meeting Monday morning to discuss the U.S. operation to capture Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in Caracas, the council’s Somali presidency told AFP.
The emergency session, scheduled for 10 a.m. (3 p.m. GMT), was requested by Venezuela and supported by Colombia, which recently joined the council, diplomatic sources said.
Thank you for following our live coverage. We’ll be back tomorrow morning.
Spain ‘will not recognize’ the US intervention in Venezuela, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez says
Madrid announced that the Spanish government “will not recognize” the U.S. intervention in Venezuela, “which violates international law,” Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said on Saturday.
“Spain did not recognize the Maduro regime. But it will not recognize an intervention that violates international law and plunges the region into uncertainty and violence,” Sánchez wrote on X, after U.S. President Donald Trump announced that the United States would take control of the South American country until a “safe” transition is completed.
Sánchez also called on all parties to “think of the civilian population, respect the United Nations Charter, and work toward a just and negotiated transition.”
Macron hails the end of ‘the Maduro dictatorship’ and calls for a ‘democratic transition,’ without mentioning the US attack
French President Emmanuel Macron reacted Saturday evening to the situation in Venezuela, saying that “the Venezuelan people are today free of the dictatorship of Nicolás Maduro and can only welcome this development.”
In his statement, the French head of state did not mention the airstrikes carried out against Caracas or the abduction of the Venezuelan leader by the U.S. military, nor did he refer to any violation of international law.
He went on to call for the rapid opening of a “peaceful, democratic transition that respects the will of the Venezuelan people,” saying he hoped that “President Edmundo González Urrutia, elected in 2024, will be able to lead this transition as soon as possible.”
Macron finally said that “France is fully mobilized and vigilant,” particularly to ensure “the safety of its nationals during these uncertain hours.”
Trump claims Venezuela’s vice president sworn in to replace Maduro
Trump said Venezuela’s Vice President Delcy Rodríguez has been “sworn in” as president following Maduro’s capture by U.S. forces.
There has been no confirmation of this claim in Venezuelan media.
Trump also said Rodríguez — whose whereabouts remain unclear — spoke with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and expressed a willingness “to do what we think is necessary to make Venezuela great again.”
Rodríguez, the daughter of left-wing guerrilla fighter Jorge Antonio Rodríguez, has long played a central role in managing Venezuela’s economy.
Trump says US ready to launch second, ‘much larger’ attack in Venezuela if needed
Trump said the United States is “ready to stage a second and much larger attack” in Venezuela, but suggested it may not be necessary given what he described as the “success” of the first operation.
“We actually assumed that a second wave would be necessary but it’s probably not,” Trump said.
“The first attack was so successful that we probably don’t have to do a second.”
Maduro was trying to reach a ‘safe place’ during capture, Trump says
When asked whether U.S. forces could have killed Maduro during the raid, Trump said “it could have happened … he was trying to get into a safe place.”
“There was a lot of gunfire … he was trying to get to a safe place, which wasn’t safe, because we would have had the door blown up,” Trump said. “He made it to the door. He was unable to close it.”
US operation in Venezuela branded an ‘outrageous military action’
Hours after Trump announced that the U.S. had captured Maduro and his wife, Democratic Representative Becca Balint sharply criticized the move, according to Raw Story.
Balint said she was angry, describing the operation as unnecessary, illegal and long planned. She argued it had nothing to do with drug trafficking and was instead driven by oil, minerals and regime change.
She said there was no legal justification for the invasion and voiced outrage that Congress had not been briefed — including Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries and the relevant committees.
Balint warned the move was dangerous not only for Venezuela and the wider region, but also for the United States’ moral standing on the global stage.
Calling it an “outrageous military action,” she said she was concerned for U.S. service members deployed as a result, stressing that they are meant to defend the Constitution, not carry out actions decided on a whim.
Rubio says Cuban government should be ‘concerned’
Secretary of State Rubio said the government of Cuba should be “concerned” following U.S. military strikes on Venezuela.
Earlier, Trump indicated that Cuba could become a topic of discussion as part of broader U.S. policy in the region, signaling that Washington may expand its focus beyond Venezuela amid rising tensions in Latin America.
Rajji contacts Lebanese ambassador in Caracas
Lebanese Foreign Minister Youssef Rajji inquired about the situation of Lebanese emigrants in Venezuela during a phone call with the Lebanese ambassador in Caracas. During his conversation with Ambassador Nisrine Bou Karam, Rajji tasked her with “closely monitoring the living conditions of members of the Lebanese community and taking all necessary measures to ensure their protection in case of an emergency.”
He also urged Lebanese residents in Venezuela to contact the embassy immediately in case of an emergency, at the following number: +58 422-2477777.
'We did not notify Congress because they tend to leak things,' Trump explains
Asked about the legality of the operation, Donald Trump told reporters that his administration did not inform members of the U.S. Congress in advance “because they tend to leak things.”
“We don’t want ‘leakers,’ that’s not good for this kind of operation. If there had been leaks, the outcome could have been different,” he said.
“This is not the kind of mission you can announce in advance. You can’t say you plan to do such an operation at some point in the next fifteen days because it would endanger the mission,” added Secretary of State Marco Rubio, defending the legal aspect of the intervention, which is illegal under international law.
According to him, the abduction of Nicolás Maduro and his wife “was the arrest of two fugitives wanted by the U.S. justice system. The Department of Defense supported the Department of Justice in this operation,” he said, referring to the criminal charges brought by U.S. authorities against the Venezuelan president for “narco-terrorism.”
Trump warns other Venezuelan political and military leaders—and the world
Donald Trump further declared before ending his speech that the U.S. attack on Venezuela “should serve as a warning to anyone who threatens American sovereignty or endangers American lives.”
“The U.S. fleet remains deployed, and the United States retains all military options until its demands are fully met,” the president warned.
“All Venezuelan political and military leaders must understand that what happened to Maduro could happen to them, and it will if they are not fair and just, even toward their own people,” he added.
Trump says US oil companies will soon invest in Venezuela despite ongoing embargo
The U.S. president continued, asserting that the American intervention in Venezuela would open new opportunities for U.S. oil companies, which will soon participate in major energy projects in the country.
“We will ask our very large American companies to invest billions of dollars, repair the severely damaged infrastructure, and start generating revenue for the country,” he said.
“As everyone knows, the oil sector in Venezuela has been a total failure for a long time. They were producing almost nothing compared to what they could,” he added, specifying that the U.S. oil embargo on Venezuela remains in place.
“We will bring in our very large American oil companies—the biggest in the world—to invest billions of dollars, repair the badly dilapidated oil infrastructure, and start generating revenue for the country,” he reiterated.
Maduro and his wife 'are currently facing US justice,' Trump says
Trump stated that Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, captured the previous day along with his wife Cilia Flores, “are currently facing U.S. justice.”
According to him, they will soon be tried in New York for “their murderous campaign of narco-terrorism against the United States and its citizens.” They will both “be brought and charged in New York.”
He further claimed that U.S. courts have overwhelming evidence of Maduro’s crimes. “It is both horrifying and staggering,” he commented, accusing the Venezuelan leader of having “led a relentless campaign of violence, terror, and subversion against the United States of America, threatening not only our people but the stability of the entire region.”
Trump says he will lead Venezuela 'until a safe transition'
“We will lead the country until we can ensure a safe, proper, and judicious transition,” Donald Trump stated.
“We want peace, freedom, and justice for the great Venezuelan people, including the many Venezuelans currently living in the United States who wish to return to their country. It is their homeland. We cannot risk someone else taking over Venezuela who does not have the people’s best interests at heart,” he added.
The U.S. is “there [in Venezuela] right now” and will “stay until the proper transition can take place,” he affirmed.
Trump hails 'one of the most successful military operations in US history'
“Late last night, and early this morning, at my request, the U.S. armed forces conducted an extraordinary military operation in the capital of Venezuela,” the president said at the start of his speech following the capture of Nicolás Maduro.
“It was one of the most stunning, effective, and powerful demonstrations of American military strength and competence,” Trump added, calling it “an assault unlike anything seen since World War II… to bring the outlaw dictator Nicolás Maduro to justice.”
He also drew parallels with successful operations against Qassem Soleimani, the former commander of Iran’s Quds Force (January 2020), Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the former leader of ISIS, and last summer’s strikes on Iran’s nuclear capabilities.
“No nation in the world could have done what the United States did. In very little time, all Venezuelan military capabilities were neutralized,” he concluded.
Trump posts photo of Maduro, blindfolded, aboard a US vessel
U.S. President Donald Trump released the first photo of Nicolás Maduro since his capture by U.S. special forces, just minutes before a White House press conference that was scheduled to begin over half an hour earlier.
The Venezuelan president appears blindfolded aboard the USS Iwo Jima, the U.S. warship transporting him and his wife to New York, where he is set to face trial, as Trump stated earlier.
'Venezuelans, the hour of freedom has arrived,' says opposition leader and Nobel laureate Maria Corina Machado
“The hour of freedom has arrived,” declared Venezuelan opposition leader and 2025 Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Corina Machado on Saturday, following the U.S. capture of President Nicolás Maduro.
“Venezuelans, the hour of freedom has arrived,” she wrote in a statement on social media, adding that the 2024 opposition presidential candidate, Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia, currently exiled in Spain, must “immediately assume” the presidency.
Israel 'welcomes' Maduro’s removal by the U.S., hails Trump as 'leader of the free world'
Israel praised the U.S. operation in Venezuela, “led by President [Donald] Trump, acting as leader of the free world,” according to a post on X by its foreign minister.
“At this historic moment, Israel stands with the freedom-loving Venezuelan people, who have suffered under Maduro’s illegal tyranny. Israel welcomes the removal of the dictator who led a terrorist and drug network,” added Gideon Saar.
US aviation authority closes Caribbean airspace
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has instructed commercial airlines to avoid Caribbean airspace due to a “potentially dangerous situation” following U.S. strikes on Venezuela, Reuters reports.
The warning also cites “flight safety risks related to ongoing military activities.”
Russia 'urges' the US to release Nicolás Maduro
The Russian Foreign Affairs Ministry “urged” the United States to release Nicolás Maduro and his wife.
“We urge the U.S. authorities to reconsider this position and release the legally elected president of a sovereign country, as well as his spouse,” the Russian ministry said in a statement published on its website.
Capture of Maduro: UN chief concerned about “respect for international law”
UN Secretary-General António Guterres expressed concern “that international law may not have been respected” regarding the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro by the United States, his spokesperson said in a statement, according to AFP.
The U.S. operation constitutes a “dangerous precedent,” Mr. Guterres added, calling on “all actors in Venezuela to engage in an inclusive dialogue, with full respect for human rights and the rule of law.”
Beijing “deeply shocked” by U.S. strikes against Venezuela
Beijing said it was “deeply shocked” by the U.S. military strikes against Venezuela and the capture of President Nicolás Maduro, denouncing what it called “hegemonic behavior” by the United States, AFP reports.
“China is deeply shocked and firmly condemns the blatant use of force by the United States against a sovereign state and its action against its president,” the Chinese foreign ministry said in a statement.
“This hegemonic behavior by the United States seriously violates international law, undermines Venezuela’s sovereignty, and threatens peace and security in Latin America and the Caribbean. China firmly opposes it,” the ministry added.
“No lasting political solution can be imposed from the outside,” says Paris
French foreign minister Jean-Noël Barrot issued France’s first official reaction to the U.S. attack on Venezuela.
“By confiscating power from the Venezuelan people and depriving them of their fundamental freedoms, Nicolás Maduro has gravely undermined their dignity and their right to self-determination. France has consistently committed itself, notably through its mediation efforts, to upholding the sovereignty of the Venezuelan people, whose voice must prevail,” he wrote.
He added: “The military operation that led to the capture of Nicolás Maduro runs counter to the principle of non-use of force that underpins international law. France reiterates that no lasting political solution can be imposed from the outside and that sovereign peoples alone decide their future.”
Trump says Maduro is aboard a U.S. vessel to be “brought to New York”
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, who were captured and exfiltrated by U.S. forces, are being taken to New York, Donald Trump said during his interview on Fox News.
“They will be brought to New York. They were indicted in New York,” the U.S. president added, echoing an earlier statement by his attorney general, Pam Bondi, who said the couple is being prosecuted notably for “narcoterrorism.” “They are aboard a vessel, but they are heading toward New York,” he specified.
Trump said he followed the U.S. operation to capture Maduro in real time. “I literally watched it as I would have watched a television show. We watched it in a room and followed every aspect of it,” he said.
Nicolás Maduro “was in a very well-guarded place, like a fortress. The fact that no one was killed is incredible,” he continued, noting that only two U.S. soldiers were wounded during the assault.
The United States will not allow anyone from the Maduro regime to succeed him, says Trump on Fox News
U.S. President Donald Trump spoke for the first time on American television channel Fox News after the strikes carried out last night against Venezuela and the capture of President Nicolás Maduro.
During his interview, he stated in particular that Washington “will not allow anyone from the Maduro regime to succeed him.”
He also indicated that American soldiers were injured during the operation that consisted of capturing the Venezuelan president and his wife. “Some soldiers sustained a few injuries, but no deaths” were recorded, he assured.
Moscow demands “immediate clarifications” on Maduro’s situation
Russia condemned the U.S. military attack on Venezuela, saying that “ideological hostility” had prevailed, and demanded “immediate clarifications” following the U.S. announcement of the capture of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, AFP reported.
In a second statement, the Russian Foreign Ministry said it was “extremely alarmed by reports that the Venezuelan president and his wife were forcibly taken out of the country following today’s aggression by the United States.”
Trump offered “several exit options” to Maduro, says J.D. Vance
In a message posted on X, U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance said that “the President [Donald Trump] repeatedly offered several exit options, but he was very clear throughout this process: the drug trafficking must stop and the stolen oil must be returned to the United States. Maduro is the last person to learn that President Trump keeps his word. Congratulations to our brave special operations operators who successfully carried out a truly impressive operation.”
Cuba condemns U.S. “state terrorism” against Venezuela
Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez also criticized the U.S. attack on Venezuela. “Cuba condemns and urgently calls on the international community to respond to the criminal attack by the United States against Venezuela. Our zone of peace is being brutally assaulted. State terrorism against the brave Venezuelan people and against our America,” he wrote on X.
EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen says she is “closely monitoring the situation in Venezuela”
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said she is “closely monitoring the situation in Venezuela,” without mentioning the U.S. strikes on Caracas or the kidnapping of President Nicolás Maduro.
“We stand with the Venezuelan people and support a democratic and peaceful transition,” she wrote on X.
The EU chief also did not mention the United States or President Donald Trump in her statement. “Any solution must respect international law and the UN Charter,” she added.
Brazil says U.S. has crossed an “unacceptable line”
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva on Saturday condemned the U.S. military attack on its neighboring country and the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, calling it a crossing of “an unacceptable line.”
“These acts constitute a serious violation of Venezuela’s sovereignty and yet another extremely dangerous precedent for the international community,” Lula said in a message posted on X.
“This action recalls the worst episodes of interference in Latin American and Caribbean politics and threatens the preservation of the region as a zone of peace. Attacking countries in blatant violation of international law is the first step toward a world of violence, chaos, and instability, where the law of the strongest prevails over multilateralism,” he added.
The Brazilian president had previously warned that a military intervention in Venezuela would be a “humanitarian catastrophe” and proposed that Brazil play a mediating role in disputes between the countries.
“We must all respect international law,” reminds British Prime Minister Keir Starmer
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Saturday that all countries must “respect international law” following U.S. President Donald Trump’s announcement of the capture of his Venezuelan counterpart Nicolás Maduro.
“I want to speak with the president [Trump]… but for now, I think we need to establish the facts,” the prime minister said in a brief statement broadcast on British television.
The United Kingdom “did not participate in this operation… and I firmly believe that we must all respect international law,” he added.
“Innocent victims were fatally wounded and others killed,” says Venezuelan attorney general
Venezuelan Attorney General Tarek William Saab stated on Saturday in a communiqué that “innocent victims were fatally wounded in this cowardly terrorist attack carried out at night,” with the human toll still unknown.
In his statement, he also reiterated Caracas’s earlier demand for proof of life of Nicolás Maduro. He further said he holds the U.S. government responsible for anything that might happen to the Venezuelan leader.
Maduro to face U.S. charges of drug trafficking and terrorism, announces U.S. attorney general
U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi said in a post on X that Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, have been “indicted in the Southern District of New York.”
The Venezuelan leader will have to answer to the United States on charges related to drug trafficking and terrorism, she added.
Earlier, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio had recalled the 2020 criminal charges filed against Maduro by the U.S. justice system for “narco-terrorism, corruption, drug trafficking and other criminal offenses.”
On Aug. 7, 2025, the U.S. State Department offered a reward of up to $50 million for any information leading to Maduro’s arrest or conviction.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez calls for “de-escalation”
The Spanish government, through Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, called for “de-escalation” in Venezuela.
“International law and the principles of the United Nations Charter must be respected,” he said in a message on X.
Earlier, the Spanish Foreign Ministry had stated it was willing to act as a mediator to reach a “peaceful and negotiated solution to the current crisis.”
French left condemns Maduro’s kidnapping by U.S. forces
Leaders of La France Insoumise (LFI) and the Socialist Party (PS) denounced on Saturday “the kidnapping” of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro by U.S. forces and called on French authorities to condemn it.
“The Trump U.S.A. seizes Venezuela’s oil, violating its sovereignty with an outdated military intervention and the odious kidnapping of President Maduro and his wife,” LFI leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon said on X.
“With Ukraine, Gaza and the Democratic Republic of Congo, invasion has once again become a modus operandi,” he added, noting that “the peace of the entire world is at stake.”
PS national secretary Olivier Faure said: “Regardless of what one thinks of Maduro, this act must be universally condemned. Force cannot replace law.”
“This is another step in delegitimizing international institutions and, conversely, a green light for all the world’s autocrats,” he added.
“We will prevail,” vows Venezuelan Interior Minister on television
Venezuelan Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello, considered one of the most powerful men in the country, spoke on television amid rumors on social media claiming he had been killed or arrested.
“At the end of these attacks, we will prevail. Long live the homeland! Always loyal! Never traitors,” he declared. He added: “This is not our first struggle, this is not our first battle… we have managed to survive under all circumstances.”
Rubio recalls U.S. criminal charges against Maduro
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio reposted on X a message from July 2025 reminding that Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro had been pursued by U.S. authorities since 2020 for “drug trafficking,” while many voices have criticized the legality of the U.S. operation under international law.
“Maduro is NOT the president of Venezuela, and his regime is NOT the legitimate government. Maduro heads the Cartel of the Suns, a narcoterrorist organization that has taken control of a country. He is indicted for drug trafficking to the United States,” Rubio wrote.
Subsequently, on Aug. 7, 2025, the U.S. State Department issued a reward of up to $50 million for information leading to Maduro’s arrest or conviction.
Separately, in March 2020, the U.S. Department of Justice announced that “Nicolás Maduro Moros and 14 senior Venezuelan officials [had] been indicted” for narco-terrorism, corruption, drug trafficking, and other criminal offenses.
Hezbollah condemns “U.S. intimidation” against Venezuela
Hezbollah also issued a statement denouncing: “The terrorist aggression and American intimidation against the Republic of Venezuela, targeting the capital Caracas, vital and civilian infrastructure, as well as residential complexes, and resulting in the kidnapping of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, in a flagrant and unprecedented violation of the national sovereignty of an independent state, international law, and the United Nations Charter, under false and deceitful pretexts.”
The group added: “This attack constitutes further confirmation of the policy of domination, arrogance and plunder carried out by the U.S. administration without restraint. It demonstrates its disregard for international stability and security, while reinforcing the law of the jungle, destroying what remains of the international order, and stripping the system of anything that could offer guarantees or security for peoples and states.”
Hezbollah concluded by affirming its “full solidarity” with Venezuela.
Islamic Jihad also condemns U.S. attack on Venezuela
The Palestinian movement Islamic Jihad denounced “the hateful aggression of the United States against the Republic of Venezuela and the strikes targeting the capital Caracas and its loyal people.”
“These aggressive actions, escalating from maritime blockades to direct military strikes, reveal intentions of domination and occupation, enforcing control through force and brutality. They constitute a blatant violation of international law and national sovereignty and continue the imperialist policy aimed at subjugating peoples and plundering their resources,” the movement added.
It also stated that “the targeting of Venezuela today serves as punishment for its consistent international positions, notably its historic and ongoing support for the Palestinian cause and resistance forces in our region.”
Caracas requests U.N. Security Council meeting
Venezuela has requested an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council following the U.S. military attack, in which the United States claims to have captured President Nicolás Maduro, AFP reports.
“In the face of the criminal aggression committed by the government of the United States against the Fatherland, we have requested an urgent meeting of the United Nations Security Council, responsible for upholding international law,” Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yvan Gil said on the messaging app Telegram.
European Union calls for “restraint” in Venezuela
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas urged “restraint” after speaking with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the European Union (EU) ambassador in Caracas.
“The EU has repeatedly stated that Mr. Maduro lacks legitimacy and has advocated for a peaceful transition. Under all circumstances, the principles of international law and the United Nations Charter must be respected,” she said in a message posted on X.
Kallas added that she is “closely monitoring the situation in the country,” emphasizing that the safety of European citizens on the ground is her “top priority.”
Hamas condemns U.S. attack on Venezuela and Maduro’s kidnapping
Hamas condemned, in a statement, “with the greatest firmness the American aggression against the Republic of Venezuela and the kidnapping of President Maduro and his wife,” calling it “a serious violation of international law, undermining the sovereignty of an independent state.”
“This aggression continues the unjust policies and interventions of the United States, masking imperialist ambitions that have plunged several countries into conflicts representing a direct threat to international security and peace,” the Palestinian movement added.
“We call on the international community, the United Nations, and its institutions, particularly the Security Council, to take decisive action to counter Washington’s aggressive policies and to immediately end the military attack on Venezuelan territory,” it concluded.
“It was a brilliant operation,” Trump tells New York Times
In a brief phone interview with the New York Times, U.S. President Donald Trump hailed the success of the mission to capture his Venezuelan counterpart Nicolás Maduro.
“Lots of careful planning and lots of incredible troops, exceptional people. It was truly a brilliant operation,” he said.
When asked whether he had sought congressional approval for the operation or for subsequent actions in Venezuela, Trump said he would address these questions during his press conference at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida, scheduled for the U.S. morning (6 p.m. Beirut time).
Earlier, the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee said it had not been informed of any potential U.S. military strikes against Venezuela, CNN reported.
Madrid offers to mediate for a “peaceful solution”
The Spanish government has offered its mediation to help resolve the ongoing crisis between Venezuela and the United States.
“Spain calls for de-escalation and restraint,” the Foreign Ministry said in a statement, adding that it is “willing to offer its good offices to achieve a peaceful and negotiated solution to the current crisis.”
The ministry also recalled that it did not recognize the results of the July 28, 2024, elections, officially won by Nicolás Maduro, a result disputed by the opposition.
Russia condemns U.S. “military aggression” against Venezuela
The Kremlin condemned the U.S. “military aggression” in Venezuela, saying there was no valid justification for the attack and that “ideological hostility” had taken precedence over diplomacy.
“This morning, the United States committed an act of armed aggression against Venezuela. This is deeply concerning and condemnable,” the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
Venezuela is Russia’s most important ally in South America, although the Kremlin has so far refrained from offering assistance to Caracas in the event of a conflict with the United States.
“The pretexts used to justify such actions are indefensible. Ideological hostility has triumphed over commercial pragmatism,” the statement added.
The communiqué did not mention Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, who, according to several U.S. officials, was reportedly captured Saturday by American special forces.
“We reaffirm our solidarity with the Venezuelan people,” the Russian statement said, noting that no Russian citizens were reported injured in the U.S. strikes.
Maduro to be “brought to justice,” announces U.S. official
U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau said that Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, captured Saturday morning by U.S. special forces, “will finally be brought to justice for his crimes.”
“The dawn of a new day for Venezuela! The tyrant is gone. He will finally answer for his crimes in court,” he wrote on X.
U.S. President Donald Trump had earlier stated that Maduro had been “captured and exfiltrated” from the country following U.S. strikes.
Venezuelan vice president unsure of Maduro’s location, demands “proof of life”
Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez said she did not know the whereabouts of President Nicolás Maduro, demanding “proof of life” from the United States following the overnight U.S. attack.
“In the face of this brutal attack, we do not know where President Nicolás Maduro and the First Lady, Cilia Flores, are. We demand from President Donald Trump’s government a proof of life,” she said in a televised phone conversation.
The U.S. president had previously stated that American forces had captured the Venezuelan president after launching a “large-scale attack” on the South American country.
Colombia deploys troops to its border with Venezuela
Colombian President Gustavo Petro announced today that he has ordered the deployment of troops to the border with Venezuela, following U.S. airstrikes against his neighbor. Petro described the bombings as “an aggression against the sovereignty” of Latin America and said they would lead to a humanitarian crisis.
Iran condemns “U.S. military attack”
Iran, which maintains close ties with Venezuela, has “strongly condemned the American military attack” on the country after explosions shook the capital Caracas on Saturday, AFP reports.
“The Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs strongly condemns the American military attack on Venezuela and the flagrant violation of the country’s national sovereignty and territorial integrity,” the ministry said in a statement, denouncing “the illegal aggression of the United States,” the Islamic Republic’s enemy.
Venezuela announces “massive deployment” of its military and accuses Washington of “striking residential areas”
In response to the sudden attacks, Venezuelan Defense Minister General Vladimir Padrino López announced the “massive deployment” of all the country’s military capabilities, in a speech published on social media.
“The invading forces … have desecrated our soil … going so far as to strike, with missiles and rockets fired from their combat helicopters, residential areas populated by civilians,” he said, adding that authorities were “gathering information regarding the injured and the dead.”
He also pledged “the massive deployment of all land, air, naval, riverine, and ballistic means, the full weapons system for comprehensive defense.” This marks the first public appearance by a senior Venezuelan official since the start of the U.S. attacks.
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro “captured and exfiltrated,” says Trump
The U.S. president also claimed that the United States has “captured Nicolás Maduro,” the Venezuelan leader, along with his wife, and that they are currently being “exfiltrated” from the country by plane.
There has so far been no immediate confirmation of this information from the Venezuelan government.
United States carried out “a large-scale attack” on Venezuela, confirms Trump
In a message posted on his Truth Social network, U.S. President Donald Trump announced that U.S. air forces carried out “a large-scale attack” on Venezuela on this morning (Beirut time).
A series of strikes had been reported in the preceding hours across the country, particularly around the capital Caracas, where numerous videos of explosions were filmed.
The Fuerte Tiuna military complex, the country’s largest, was among the sites targeted. No casualty toll has yet been made available.
Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the U.S. attack on Venezuela, which was hit Saturday morning by a series of airstrikes claimed by Washington and President Donald Trump.
Already have an account? Login here
You have reached your article limit
Take advantage our special summer offer.
Stay informed for 7 months for the price of 6, for only $40.
This article is only available to L’Orient Today subscribers.
Already have an account? Login here
