President Donald Trump has announced that U.S. forces captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife during a “large-scale” military operation.
Attorney General Pam Bondi stated that Maduro has been indicted by a federal court in New York on narco-terrorism and weapons charges, and will “face the full wrath of American justice on American soil in American courts.”
President Trump detailed that the operation extracted the couple from a heavily fortified compound. He reported “a few injuries but no deaths” among U.S. personnel. According to the president, Maduro is currently en route to the United States aboard a U.S. vessel.
The Venezuelan government has declared a national emergency, condemning what it calls an “act of war” and “extremely serious military aggression.” Independent analysis by BBC Verify has identified at least three separate locations within Venezuela struck in the assault.
In the aftermath, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio signaled to congressional leaders that he anticipates no immediate further military action against Venezuela, according to a senior Republican senator.
