U.S. forces capture Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro in Caracas operation

Time reports the U.S. launched an incursion into Caracas that captured President Nicolás Maduro and left Venezuela in a state of uncertainty over its political and economic future. The operation was described as the culmination of a monthslong military pressure campaign framed by the Trump Administration as an effort to stymie drug trafficking and so‑called “narco‑terrorism,” and officials say the U.S.

has asserted control over the direction of Venezuela’s governance and its crude oil industry. Planning reportedly began as early as August; in the early hours of Jan. 3 more than 150 U.S. military aircraft entered Venezuela, American forces arrived at Maduro’s compound just after 2 a.m.

local time, and Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores were on board U.S. aircraft by 3:29 a.m. ET. The U.S. had previously deployed naval forces and other assets, offered a $50 million reward for information leading to Maduro’s arrest, conducted strikes on boats alleged to be transporting drugs, and seized at least one oil tanker under an announced oil blockade.

Key Topics

World, Nicolás Maduro, Venezuela, Pdvsa, Oil Industry