In a stunning military operation, the United States has captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro after launching airstrikes across northern Venezuela, including the capital city of Caracas. The dramatic January 3, 2026 assault, dubbed Operation Absolute Resolve, marks an extraordinary escalation in U.S. intervention in the Western Hemisphere.
The pre-dawn strikes culminated months of secret planning by U.S. military forces, with President Trump giving final approval for the operation late on January 2, around 11 p.m., according to Wikipedia entries documenting the assault. U.S. troops had reportedly been positioned in strategic locations throughout late December 2025, preparing for what would become one of the most direct American military actions in South America in decades.
Explosions in Caracas
Multiple explosions rocked the Venezuelan capital as U.S. forces executed the operation. NBC News live coverage showed the dramatic aftermath, with reports of civilian casualties emerging from Venezuela’s attorney general. The strikes apparently achieved their primary objective — the capture of both Maduro and his wife.
What happens next? In a hastily arranged press conference just hours after the operation, President Trump outlined plans for what amounts to an American occupation of the oil-rich nation. “We are going to run the country until such time as we can do a safe, proper and judicious transition,” Trump stated, suggesting an indefinite U.S. presence in Venezuela.
The president’s remarks also indicated American intentions regarding Venezuela’s vast petroleum resources, with explicit mentions of U.S. involvement in the country’s oil industry moving forward. This aspect of the operation is likely to draw particular scrutiny from international observers concerned about resource exploitation.
International Fallout
The operation represents one of the most direct U.S. military interventions in Latin America in generations. Regional powers have yet to respond formally to the strikes, though reactions are expected to be swift and potentially severe from nations traditionally aligned with Venezuela’s government.
Human rights organizations are already demanding accountability for civilian casualties. While precise numbers remain unclear, the confirmation of civilian deaths by Venezuela’s attorney general suggests the operation’s human cost extends beyond government targets.
The capture of a sitting head of state through direct military action stands as a remarkable development in international relations. Legal experts will undoubtedly question the operation’s standing under international law, while political analysts are scrambling to understand the implications for U.S. foreign policy doctrine.
For Venezuelans who’ve endured years of economic hardship under Maduro’s increasingly autocratic rule, the American intervention brings uncertainty rather than immediate relief. The promised “transition” remains undefined, and questions linger about who might eventually lead a post-Maduro Venezuela — and how much influence Washington intends to exert over that process.
