The United States carried out a large-scale military strike on Venezuela early Saturday, hitting multiple locations including the capital, Caracas, in a sharp escalation of tensions between the two countries.
Explosions were reported across Caracas as low-flying aircraft were seen over the city. The US later claimed that Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro had been captured and flown out of the country — a claim rejected by Caracas, which accused Washington of attacking both civilian and military installations.
The Venezuelan government described the action as an “imperialist attack,” urged citizens to mobilise, and announced the implementation of national defence plans. It also declared a state of external disturbance.
The overnight operation was announced by US President Donald Trump on social media hours after the strikes.
The Trump administration has framed the attack as part of a broader response to what it describes as security threats emanating from Venezuela, particularly drug trafficking and migration.
Trump has repeatedly linked Venezuela to the surge of migrants at the US southern border, claiming that worsening conditions under Maduro’s rule have driven large numbers of Venezuelans northward. US officials have also alleged — without releasing independent evidence — that Caracas facilitated migration by allowing prisoners to leave the country.
Another central justification cited by Washington is narcotics trafficking. The US administration has long accused Maduro’s government of being deeply enmeshed with drug cartels and criminal syndicates operating in the region.
Senior US officials have described Venezuela as a key transit route for cocaine and a contributor to the fentanyl crisis in the United States. As part of this narrative, Washington has designated Venezuelan groups such as the Cartel de los Soles and Tren de Aragua as Foreign Terrorist Organisations, alleging links between these networks and the country’s leadership.
The US has also pointed to a 2020 grand jury indictment accusing Maduro of narco-terrorism and a $50 million reward offered for his capture as part of its rationale for sustained pressure.
The attack followed months of escalating US military activity near Venezuela. Since August, Washington has significantly expanded its naval and air presence in the Caribbean and off South America’s coast, including the deployment of an advanced aircraft carrier and thousands of additional troops.
Beginning in early September, the US carried out at least 35 strikes on boats it said were involved in drug smuggling across the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific. The administration has claimed these operations killed at least 115 people.
Trump has described the maritime strikes as part of an “armed conflict” with drug cartels aligned with the Maduro government, arguing that they were necessary to curb the flow of narcotics into the United States.
In the days leading up to the Caracas strike, the Central Intelligence Agency reportedly conducted a drone attack on a docking facility believed to be used by Venezuelan drug networks.
Washington also tightened economic pressure by seizing sanctioned oil tankers near Venezuelan waters and blocking others from moving crude, measures aimed at restricting Caracas’ access to revenue.
Maduro has consistently rejected US allegations, describing American military actions as an attempt to force regime change and gain access to Venezuela’s vast oil reserves.
In a pre-recorded interview aired earlier this week, Maduro said Washington was seeking to overthrow his government through sustained military and economic pressure. His government has accused the US of violating Venezuelan sovereignty and international law.
Ironically, the strike came a day after Venezuelan authorities said they were open to negotiating with the United States on cooperation against drug trafficking, underscoring how rapidly tensions escalated.
