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US Strikes Venezuela LIVE Updates: Trump called the action as successful and said it came after months of rising US pressure on Maduro.
US President Donald Trump. (AP Photo)
US Strikes Venezuela LIVE Updates: The United States launched large-scale strikes on Venezuela early Saturday, triggering explosions across Caracas and other cities and setting off a fast-moving political and military crisis. US President Donald Trump later claimed that Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were captured by American forces and flown out of the country following the operation.
Posting on Truth Social, Trump called the action as successful and said it came after months of rising US pressure on Maduro, whose oil-dependent economy has struggled under sanctions.
Explosions were heard in the Venezuelan capital around 2:00 am, with helicopters seen flying over the city for nearly an hour, according to reports and social media footage. The strikes marked a dramatic escalation in tensions between Washington and Caracas.
Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez responded by demanding that the United States provide “proof of life” of Maduro, saying she does not know his or his wife’s whereabouts.
Venezuelan officials accused US forces of striking residential areas and endangering civilians. Defence Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez condemned the attacks as an invasion and announced a massive nationwide deployment of military forces, including land, air, naval and missile units, vowing that Venezuela would defend itself against what it called foreign aggression.
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US Strikes Venezuela LIVE Updates: Reactions To US Strikes On Venezuela: Iran, Russia Condemns Attack; Spain Offers Mediation
Global reactions poured in on Saturday after the United States launched military strikes on Venezuela, with several countries condemning the action and warning of serious consequences for regional and global stability. READ FULL ARTICLE HERE
US Strikes Venezuela LIVE Updates: Venezuela Deploys Forces Nationwide After Defence Minister Warns Of Aggression
Venezuela’s Defence Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez has announced the immediate deployment of military forces across the country, calling for unity and resistance against what he described as the “worst aggression” Venezuela has ever faced. He said the armed forces were acting under President Nicolas Maduro’s orders and stressed that the country would not be subdued, adding that while Venezuela has been attacked, it remains determined to defend itself.
US Strikes Venezuela LIVE: Venezuelan Vice President Demands 'Proof Of Life' After Trump Claims Maduro Captured
Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez on Saturday demanded that Washington provide “proof of life” of President Nicolás Maduro after US President Donald Trump claimed that Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were captured by American forces and flown out of the country.
Rodríguez said she does not know their whereabouts following a wave of US strikes on Caracas and other cities.
US Strikes Venezuela LIVE Updates: Colombia Moves Troops To Venezuelan Border After US Attacks
Colombian President Gustavo Petro on Saturday ordered the deployment of military forces to the border with Venezuela after the United States launched large-scale strikes on Venezuelan territory and claimed to have captured President Nicolas Maduro.
Petro called Washington’s actions as an assault on Latin American independence that risks sparking a wider humanitarian crisis in the region.
US Strikes Venezuela LIVE Updates: Trump Confirms 'Large-Scale' Strikes Against Venezuela
US President Donald Trump confirmed ‘large-scale’ strikes against Venezuela.
The United States of America has successfully carried out a large-scale strike against Venezuela and its leader, President Nicolas Maduro, who has been, along with his wife, captured and flown out of the Country. This operation was done in conjunction with U.S. Law Enforcement.… pic.twitter.com/5AiUVzcO0A
— ANI (@ANI) January 3, 2026
US Strikes Venezuela LIVE Updates: Trump Says Maduro, His Wife Captured, Flown Out
Amid the US strikes in Venezuela, President Donald Trump said that Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife have been captured and flown out of the country.
The United States of America has successfully carried out a large-scale strike against Venezuela and its leader, President Nicolas Maduro, who has been, along with his wife, captured and flown out of the Country. This operation was done in conjunction with U.S. Law Enforcement.… pic.twitter.com/5AiUVzcO0A
— ANI (@ANI) January 3, 2026
US Strikes Venezuela LIVE Updates: Iran Condemns 'US Military Attack' On Venezuela
The Iranian government on Saturday condemned the explosions in Venezuela carried out by the United States, calling them an “American military attack”.
US Strikes Venezuela LIVE Updates: Venezuela Govt Says 'Goal Of Explosions Was To Take Possession Of Oil & Minerals'
In an official statement, the Venezuelan government alleged that the goal of the American strikes was to take possession of the country’s oil and minerals, adding that Washington would not succeed in taking the resources.
US Strikes Venezuela LIVE Updates: US Confirms Conducting Strikes In Venezuela
The United States has officially confirmed that it is conducting strikes in Venezuela, the news agency Reuters reported, citing an official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity.
US Strikes Venezuela LIVE Updates: FAA Bans US Commercial Flights In Venezuelan Airspace
In view of the ongoing US strikes in the Venezuelan capital, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has banned commercial flights in Venezuelan airspace, as reported by AP.
BREAKING: FAA bans U.S. commercial flights in Venezuelan airspace over “ongoing military activity” ahead of explosions in the capital, Caracus.
The Pentagon and White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment. https://t.co/rrEYQ86PNw
— The Associated Press (@AP) January 3, 2026
US Strikes Venezuela LIVE Updates: CPI(M) Condemns US's 'Military Aggression', 'Intimidation' Against Venezuela
Communist Party of India (CPI-M) has condemned the US strikes against the Venezuelan capital, calling out what it described as “U.S.’s long-standing imperialist policy of intervention and coercion aimed at destabilising independent nations”.
We strongly condemn the United States’ military aggression and intimidation against #Venezuela, which violates international law, the UN Charter, and the principle of national sovereignty. These actions reflect the U.S.’s long-standing imperialist policy of intervention and… pic.twitter.com/jDhXRXt57Q
— CPI (M) (@cpimspeak) January 3, 2026
US Strikes Venezuela LIVE Updates: Cuba Condemns US Strikes On Venezuelan Capital
Cuba has condemned the American strikes against Venezuelan capital, calling it a “criminal attack”.
#Cuba denuncia y demanda URGENTE reacción de la comunidad internacional contra criminal ataque de E.U a #Venezuela. Nuestra #ZonaDePaz está siendo brutalmente asaltada. Terrorismo de Estado contra el bravo pueblo venezolano y contra Nuestra América.
Patria o Muerte ¡Venceremos!
— Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez (@DiazCanelB) January 3, 2026
US Strikes Venezuela LIVE Updates: Colombia "Deeply Concerned" Over Explosions In Venezuelan Capital
Following the US strikes on Venezuela, Colombian President Gustavo Petro said on Saturday that his country was deeply concerned about the explosions in Venezuela.
El Gobierno de la República de Colombia observa con profunda preocupación los reportes sobre explosiones y actividad aérea inusual registrados en las últimas horas en la República Bolivariana de Venezuela, así como la consecuente escalada de tensión en la región.
Colombia…
— Gustavo Petro (@petrogustavo) January 3, 2026
US Strikes Venezuela LIVE Updates: Venezuela Accuses US Of 'Military Aggression', Maduro Declares Emergency
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has declared a state of emergency, calling on people to mobilise to “defeat this imperialist aggression”.
US Strikes Venezuela LIVE Updates: Heightened Tensions Between US, Venezuela
The strikes come amid heightened tensions between the United States and Venezuela, with President Trump having publicly raised the possibility of ground strikes against the country. In recent days, he also ordered the deployment of a US Navy task force to the Caribbean.
According to the US officials, the American forces have been targeting alleged drug-smuggling boats in the region as part of counter-narcotics operations. However, it is yet to be ascertained whether Saturday’s explosions in Caracas were linked to those actions or to any other military activity.
