US strikes Venezuela and says its leader, Maduro, has been captured and flown out of the country

"CARACAS, Venezuela -- The United States hit Venezuela with a "large-scale strike" early Saturday and said its president, Nicolás Maduro, had been captured and flown out of the country after months of stepped-up pressure by Washington - an extraordinary nighttime operation announced by President Donald Trump on social media hours after the attack. Multiple explosions rang out and low-flying aircraft swept through Caracas, the capital, as Maduro's government immediately accused the United States of attacking civilian and military installations."

"It was not immediately clear who was running the country, and Maduro's whereabouts were not immediately known. Trump announced the developments on Truth Social shortly after 4:30 a.m. ET. Under Venezuelan law the vice president, Delcy Rodríguez, would take power. There was no confirmation that had happened, though she did issue a statement after the strike. "We do not the whereabouts of President Nicolás Maduro and First Lady Cilia Flores," Rodriguez said. "We demand proof of life.""

"The legal implications of the strike under U.S. law were not immediately clear. Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, posted on X that he had spoken with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who briefed him on the strike. Rubio told Lee that Maduro "has been arrested by U.S. personnel to stand trial on criminal charges in the United States." The White House did not immediately respond to queries on where Maduro and his wife were being flown to. Maduro was indicted in March 2020 on "narco-terrorism" conspiracy charges in the Southern District of New"

U.S. forces conducted a large-scale strike in Venezuela and announced that President Nicolás Maduro had been captured and flown out of the country. Explosions and low-flying aircraft occurred over Caracas while the Venezuelan government accused the United States of attacking civilian and military installations and labeled the action an "imperialist attack," urging citizens into the streets. Under Venezuelan law the vice president, Delcy Rodríguez, would assume power, but there was no confirmation and she demanded proof of life. U.S. officials indicated Maduro might be arrested by U.S. personnel to face criminal charges, and the White House did not confirm destination details.

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