"It was 2 AM local time when we first heard the roar of planes. Shortly after, a deafening explosion reached our ears. Within minutes, smoke clouds obscured everything in sight. Reporters from Caracas began broadcasting. I heard the engines of planes and helicopters overhead, anticipating a statement from President Maduro. . ."
Even international journalists stationed in Venezuela never expected such an enormous scale to this operation. They hoped for a declaration from President Maduro. Reporting from Caracas, BBC’s Vanessa Silva described the explosions as more thunderous than lightning, shaking her home. Given Caracas's valley location, the blasts reverberated across the city.
"My heart pounded and my legs shook uncontrollably," she shared, shaken by the proximity of the explosions, yet noting their precision. Vanessa's relative witnessed objects plummeting from the sky before a thunderous explosion erupted ten seconds later.
She recounted, these assaults weren't limited to Caracas but happened in Miranda and Aragua too.
On the third day of 2026, after seven explosions rocked Caracas, panic ensued as people scrambled into the streets. Some opted to document the chaos via social media. Initial reports didn't confirm casualties on either side.
Spanning less than 30 minutes, it remained unclear whether additional actions would ensue.
Reporting on the incident, English-language newspaper EL PAIS revealed that Caracas residents were startled awake shortly before 2:00 AM by thunderous sounds resembling lightning in the sky. Videos of aircraft, explosive flashes, and smoke clouds dominated social media.
Preliminary reports indicated multiple airstrikes at the military base of Fuerte Tiuna, Caracas's central base located south of the capital, suffering power loss. Within minutes, a large blaze was visible, followed by dense gray smoke clouds.
Stay Updated on Every Detail of the US Assault on Venezuela, Live
Confirmed attacks targeted La Carlota Air Base and other military posts around Caracas, including Cuartel de la Montaña – home to Hugo Chavez's remains, as well as Maracay and La Guaira. Helicopters were seen flying over the city in videos shared by social media users, marking a night of apocalypse for locals.
The US Special Forces seized Maduro and his wife by helicopter extraction. Maduro's whereabouts remain unknown post-operation, concluding with minimal ground skirmishes as Venezuelan air defenses were swiftly neutralized.
Maduro Captured – An Announcement by Trump Shocks the World
Disclosing the operation, President Donald Trump announced that after an extensive military assault on Caracas, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro was captured and taken out of the country. US Secretary of State Marko Rubio informed a GOP Senator that Maduro would face trial in the US.
President Trump's proclamation was extraordinary, unprecedented in American history where a nighttime invasion saw the removal of a nation's leader.
Venezuela’s Vice President, Delcy Rodriguez, declared the government had no whereabouts about Maduro and First Lady Celia Flores, criticizing US strikes for claimed casualties among officials, military, and civilians nationwide.
Proof of Life Demanded from the US
Vice President Delcy Rodriguez sought evidence from the US of Maduro and First Lady Celia Flores being alive, as no information had surfaced till now.
Venezuela Calls for Armed 'Resistance'
Two and a half hours post-initial explosions, a statement aired on Venezuelan government TV channel VTV. According to EL PAIS, it was released by the Venezuelan government, announcing a state of emergency due to external interference, prepped for since October.
The statement declared Venezuela’s immediate call for "armed resistance" against US aggression. "The entire nation must unite to defeat this imperialistic attack." The government attested attacks weren’t isolated to Caracas but extended across Miranda, Aragua, and La Guaira states.
In a declaration by Nicolas Maduro's government, their motive is blatant, "to seize Venezuela’s strategic resources, notably its oil and minerals, and forcefully terminate the nation's political independence. They will not prevail." "This attempt to impose a colonial war to dismantle the Republican character of the government by aligning with the fascist elite will falter, like all previous efforts."
