The USA attacked Venezuela. Trump reported that Maduro was captured and taken abroad.

The capital of Venezuela found itself at the center of a sharp and alarming escalation. On the night of January 3, a series of powerful explosions rocked Caracas. Almost simultaneously, Donald Trump made a loud statement claiming that the US had allegedly “captured and removed” Nicolás Maduro and his wife. These words immediately added fuel to the fire and turned local events into an international crisis.

According to Associated Press and Reuters, around two o’clock in the morning local time, intense explosions began in the city. Witnesses reported aircraft flying over the capital. In the southern areas of Caracas, where one of the key military bases is located, electricity was lost. Social networks were filled with videos of flashes, sirens, and the evacuation of people from the streets.

The loudest explosions, according to local residents, were heard in the Fuerte Tiuna area — a strategic complex where Venezuela’s top military leadership is located. The New York Times, citing sources, indicates that one of the strikes may have been near the home of Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López, but there is no official confirmation of this information.

The geography of the events turned out to be wider than one point on the map. Explosions were also recorded in the area of the Generalissimo Francisco de Miranda military airfield, known as La Carlota. According to CNN, similar incidents occurred in the state of La Guaira in the north of the country, indicating a coordinated nature of the actions.

Separate resonance was caused by footage of a fire in the Cuartel de la Montaña building — a military-historical complex and the mausoleum of Hugo Chávez. This object has symbolic significance for the regime and supporters of the Bolivarian revolution, and its damage became a powerful political signal.

The Venezuelan authorities almost immediately blamed the United States for what happened. A statement from the Ministry of Information speaks of a “coordinated attack” on civilian and military targets in Caracas, as well as in the states of Miranda, Aragua, and La Guaira. The goal, according to Caracas, is to seize the country’s strategic resources — primarily oil and minerals — and undermine political sovereignty.

Nicolás Maduro declared a state of emergency in the country, citing “external shocks.” This step expands the powers of the authorities, including the mobilization of resources and strengthening control over the media. The government also called on the population and security forces to resist what it called an American “imperialist attack.”

On the US side, official comments remain restrained. According to CBS News, the order to conduct the operation was allegedly given by Donald Trump, as confirmed by Fox News sources. The White House publicly refrains from detailed statements, but a source in the Pentagon confirmed the fact of the explosions, without disclosing their causes and objectives.

The context of recent weeks only intensifies the tension. In early December, the US launched its first strike on a facility in Venezuela related to port infrastructure. Before that, there were attacks on ships suspected of drug trafficking. According to CBS News, Trump gave permission for an expanded operation a few days before the current events. A strike during the Christmas period was considered, but it was decided to postpone it.

The irony of the situation is highlighted by the fact that just a few hours before the explosions, Maduro declared his readiness to cooperate with the US. He called the Venezuelan people “friends of Americans” and spoke of joint efforts against drug trafficking. These words quickly lost relevance.

Over the past six months, the US has significantly increased its military presence off the coast of Venezuela. Strikes on light vessels, which began back in 2025, have led to civilian casualties and have been a source of constant tension. Donald Trump has repeatedly accused the Venezuelan authorities of “narco-terrorism” and directly hinted that keeping Maduro in power would lead to severe consequences.

The night of explosions in Caracas became a new starting point. It remains unclear what part of the statements is part of an information war and what is a real change in the balance of power. But one thing is clear: Venezuela has entered a phase where every action can have regional and global consequences. The development of the situation and its impact on international security are being monitored by NAnews — News of Israel | Nikk.Agency.