US Strikes Venezuela Highlights: Operation Absolute Resolve not an invasion, says Marco Rubio

Several Indian-American lawmakers sharply criticised President Donald Trump’s decision to deploy US forces to Venezuela and capture President Nicolas Maduro, calling it unconstitutional and an abuse of presidential power. Lawmakers including Raja Krishnamoorthi, Ro Khanna, Pramila Jayapal, Ami Bera and Shri Thanedar said the action lacked congressional authorisation and risked drawing the US into another open-ended conflict. While acknowledging Maduro as an illegitimate leader, they warned the move undermines the Constitution, erodes the rule of law, weakens US credibility and diverts attention from domestic priorities, urging Congress to reassert its authority.

Venezuela’s Defence Minister Vladimir Padrino said on Sunday that a significant number of members of former President Nicolas Maduro’s security detail were killed during the US raid that resulted in his capture a day earlier. While he did not specify casualty figures, Padrino voiced support for Vice President Delcy Rodriguez as interim president and said the armed forces have been deployed nationwide to safeguard the country’s sovereignty.

Global markets could react positively to the US capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, with investors anticipating a long-term boost in oil supply, an analyst in Frankfurt said. ING chief economist Carsten Brzeski noted that markets tend to price in expectations, including the prospect of rising Venezuelan oil production over coming months and years.

While the move adds fresh geopolitical risk that could initially trigger safe-haven demand, it may ultimately support risk assets if Venezuela’s vast oil reserves are unlocked. President Donald Trump said US oil companies are ready to invest heavily to revive production, potentially easing energy prices and supporting global growth.

Left-wing protesters gathered outside the US embassy in Madrid on Sunday to denounce American military action in Venezuela and the capture of President Nicolas Maduro. Demonstrators accused Washington of violating international law after President Donald Trump said the US would place Venezuela under American control following the operation.

Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said Madrid would not recognise any US intervention that breaches international norms. The protest took place amid heightened tensions over Venezuela’s future. Spain hosts the largest Venezuelan migrant community outside Latin America and the US, including prominent opposition figures such as Edmundo Gonzalez and Leopoldo Lopez.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio rejected claims that the U.S. operation in Venezuela was an invasion, saying it was a limited law enforcement action that did not require congressional approval. He said FBI agents arrested President Nicolas Maduro on Venezuelan soil, with the military only targeting threats to ensure their safe entry and exit.

Rubio defended the lack of prior congressional notification, citing operational secrecy and urgency. He said the US is enforcing a quarantine on sanctioned Venezuelan oil shipments, using naval leverage to seize tankers until governance changes are made in the country’s oil sector.

The US said its temporary restrictions on Caribbean airspace would expire at midnight ET on Saturday, allowing airlines to resume flights as schedules are updated, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said.

The curbs were imposed after the US military operation in Venezuela and the capture of President Nicolas Maduro, which led to hundreds of flight cancellations. United, Delta and American Airlines said they were preparing to restore most Caribbean services by Sunday, adding extra flights, seats and larger aircraft to accommodate stranded passengers.

However, analysts warned it could take several days for operations to fully normalise.

Left parties protested at Jantar Mantar in Delhi on Sunday against US aggression, and in solidarity with the people of Venezuela. Polit Bureau member BV Raghavulu was also present.

Georgia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it is monitoring the situation in Venezuela closely. "We are closely following developments in Venezuela with the hope that future processes will unfold in line with the best interests of the Venezuelan people," the ministry said.

It noted that Venezuela’s earlier recognition of Georgia’s occupied regions, Abkhazia and the so-called South Ossetia, as independent states constituted a serious breach of international law. Tbilisi added it hopes the latest developments will result in a reversal of this “unlawful decision,” in keeping with Georgia’s national interests and established international legal principles.

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim criticised the U.S. strikes on Venezuela, voicing alarm at their implications. "I have followed developments in Venezuela with grave concern".

He said the detention of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife during a large-scale US military operation amounted to a breach of international law and an unlawful use of force, urging their immediate release.

Anwar warned that externally driven removal of an elected leader creates a dangerous precedent, undermines global norms, and risks worsening Venezuela’s economic and social crisis. "Malaysia regards respect for international law and sovereignty as paramount to peaceful relations between states".

North Korea has strongly condemned the US strikes on Venezuela, calling them "the most serious violation of sovereignty," according to the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on Sunday.

Describing the action as further proof of Washington’s "rogue and brutal nature," KCNA quoted a spokesperson from North Korea’s Foreign Ministry as saying the incident once again underscored the United States’ aggressive conduct.

The Venezuelan anti-aircraft unit at La Carlota air base was among key sites struck in pre-dawn attacks on Saturday, January 3, when the United States carried out an operation to capture President Nicolás Maduro. The operation also hit the Fuerte Tiuna, La Guaira port, and Higuerote airport east of the capital, knocking out electricity in parts of Caracas.

Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said Ukraine has consistently defended the right of nations to live freely, without dictatorship, oppression or human rights violations. Referring to Nicolás Maduro, Sybiha said the Maduro regime had violated these principles “in every respect,” adding that Ukraine supports further developments in line with international law, with priority given to democracy, human rights and the interests of the Venezuelan people.

Eyewitness video released on Sunday showed damage to an airport in the Venezuelan city of Higuerote after the United States launched a shock strike on Venezuela. Debris was visible on the ground, along with burnt-out machinery and a damaged aircraft and building. Higuerote lies about 85 km (52 miles) east of Caracas and was among several sites targeted as part of the operation.

Following US airstrikes on Venezuela and the dramatic capture of President Nicolas Maduro, President Donald Trump announced that the United States would temporarily “run” the country and warned that other “troubling neighbours” could face a similar fate.

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India on Sunday expressed “deep concern” over the recent US strikes on Venezuela and said it is closely monitoring the evolving situation, according to a press release issued on January 4, 2026. The government reaffirmed its support for the well-being and safety of the people of Venezuela and called on all concerned parties to address issues peacefully through dialogue.

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Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass criticised the Trump administration on Saturday evening, calling the US special operations mission that captured Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro and his wife a “reckless decision.”

In a post on X, Bass said the move to strike Venezuela to remove Maduro risks chaos and violence, and could entrench the United States in a conflict the American people did not ask for. She added that Los Angeles would continue to stand for peace, democracy and diplomacy.

Seeing images of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in handcuffs on US soil evoked memories of her country’s troubled past and a sense of hope, Venezuelan national Niurka Melendez told CNN on Sunday.

“It’s like a roller coaster. So many emotions at the same time,” said Melendez, the co-founder of Venezuelans and Immigrants Aid, a New York-based group that helps Venezuelan asylum seekers, describing the moment as a possible “light at the end of the tunnel.”

Sunil Malhotra, a member of the small Indian community in Caracas, described the unfolding situation in the Latin American nation, marked by widespread infrastructure damage, massive queues for food, and a pervasive sense of fear and uncertainty.

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A former Nato commander warned on Saturday that potential hostility in Venezuela could make it difficult for the United States to secure oil resources with troops on the ground. Speaking to CNN, the former commander said, “It’s going to be difficult to just hold on to the oil in a country that could turn hostile,” adding that the aftermath of the military operation remains “still unclear.”

The remarks came after the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, following which Vice President Delcy Rodríguez demanded their “immediate release” and accused Washington of having “savagely attacked” Venezuela’s territorial integrity.

The New York Times and The Washington Post were aware of a secret US raid on Venezuela shortly before it was scheduled to begin, but chose not to publish the information, according to reports.

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The White House shared a video showing Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro openly challenging US President Donald Trump and the United States to “come and get him,” amid escalating tensions between Washington and Caracas.

US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said he witnessed “the best of America” after visiting Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, where American soldiers returned following what he described as a successful mission in Venezuela. Speaking to CBS News, Hegseth said the troops were dedicated to defending the country and accomplishing their mission.

He said decisions on what happens next would ultimately rest with Venezuelans, while arguing that the outcome would benefit American security and prosperity and potentially the Venezuelan people as well.

China’s foreign ministry called on the United States to ensure the personal safety of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, and to immediately release them. In a statement, China urged Washington to resolve the issue through dialogue rather than force.

The White House on Sunday released a previously recorded video of captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, in which he can be heard daring US President Donald Trump to come to Venezuela and arrest him. In the clip, Maduro says, "Come get me. I will wait for him here. Don’t be late in arriving. Coward".

Satellite internet provider Starlink said it is providing free broadband service to Venezuela following large-scale US strikes on the country. In a post on X published at 10:30, Starlink said it would offer free access “to the people of Venezuela through February 3, ensuring continued connectivity.” Venezuela’s internet infrastructure has long-faced tight government controls, nationwide blackouts and slow speeds, making connectivity a persistent challenge.

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said Venezuelan leader Nicols Maduro had presided over a brutal and repressive dictatorship that caused immense suffering to the Venezuelan people, adding that the end of his regime offers new hope for the country. In a statement posted on X following the United States military action in Venezuela, Mitsotakis said this was not the time to comment on the legality of recent actions, stressing instead the need for a peaceful and swift transition to a new, inclusive government with full democratic legitimacy.

AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi said on Saturday that reports of US forces capturing Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and taking him to America raised questions for India as well. Referring to US President Donald Trump, Owaisi said that if Washington could capture a sitting president from his own country, then Prime Minister Narendra Modi should also go to Pakistan and bring back the mastermind of the 26/11 Mumbai attacks to India.

A plan to remove Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro was discussed with US President Donald Trump during his first term but did not advance because officials were unable to keep him “focused” on the issue, Trump’s former national security adviser John Bolton told CNN.

Bolton, who served between 2018 and 2019, said Trump was already “very interested in Venezuelan oil” at the time. While advisers managed to get Trump interested in the idea of removing Maduro, Bolton said they “couldn’t keep him focused on it.”

After the US captured President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Venezuelan opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Corina Machado said that the ‘hour of freedom’ had arrived in Venezuela.

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China’s foreign ministry on Sunday strongly condemned the United States action in Venezuela, calling it a violation of international law, according to state broadcaster China Central Television (CCTV). Quoting the foreign ministry, a CCTV news anchor said China was “deeply shocked by and strongly condemns the US’s blatant use of force against a sovereign state and its action against the country’s president.”

Congress MP Karti P Chidambaram sought clarity on India’s position regarding the unfolding situation in Venezuela, questioning External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar.

In a post on X, Chidambaram asked, “Do we have a position on events unfolding in Venezuela?” while tagging the Ministry of External Affairs.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy appeared to hint at potential future action by the United States following the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro.

“If it’s possible to deal with dictators like that, just like that, then the United States knows what to do next,” Zelenskyy said, adding in remarks referencing Venezuela: “If you can do this to dictators, then the United States of America knows what to do next.”

US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the original restrictions around Caribbean airspace are expiring at 12:00 am ET, allowing flights to resume. Duffy said airlines have been informed of the change and are expected to update their schedules quickly.

The Supreme Court of Venezuela has ordered Vice President Delcy Rodríguez to assume the powers and duties of acting president after the United States removed President Nicolás Maduro. The order, announced late Saturday local time, said Maduro is in a “material and temporary impossibility to exercise his functions,” paving the way for Rodríguez to take over the role on an interim basis.

Handcuffed Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro is seen inside a US drug agency office in the United States, where he briefly addresses the camera and wishes viewers a “Happy New Year,” in footage recorded after his detention. Maduro along with his wife were captured after the US struck Venezuela's capital Caracas on Saturday.

A small but vocal group of pro-Maduro demonstrators gathered outside the White House on Saturday, defending Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro and condemning the Trump administration following his arrest on federal charges, according to Fox News Digital.

The US Embassy in Venezuela urged Americans to enrol in the Smart Traveller Enrolment Program to receive security updates, warning that the security situation in Venezuela remains fluid. The embassy said Venezuela is under a Level 4 “Do Not Travel” advisory due to severe risks to US citizens, advising those in the country to take precautions, stay alert and maintain multiple means of communication with contacts outside Venezuela. It added that no commercial flights are currently operating in or out of the country and noted that since March 2019, when the US Department of State withdrew all diplomatic personnel and suspended operations at the US Embassy Caracas, all consular services, routine and emergency, remain unavailable.

Pictures show damage at Fort Tiuna in Caracas after it was bombed on Saturday, after strikes carried out by US Forces.

House Democrats are expected to hold an emergency caucus meeting on Sunday following the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro, two sources confirmed to Fox News. The virtual meeting is scheduled for 2 pm ET.

The Supreme Court of Venezuela has appointed Vice President Delcy Rodríguez as the interim president of Venezuela, according to an official announcement.

Top criminal defence lawyers are already seeking to represent Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, who was captured by US forces and is set to face charges in Manhattan federal court, according to CNN senior legal analyst Elie Honig.

Speaking to CNN’s Kaitlan Collins, Honig said the case is drawing interest because of its “extremely high stakes,” Maduro’s ability to afford a top-tier defence, and its massive public profile. He added that the proceedings are likely to raise novel constitutional and international law questions that prominent defence attorneys would want the opportunity to argue, noting that “we’ve really seen very little like this.”

US Vice President Kamala Harris said Donald Trump’s actions in Venezuela do not make the United States safer, stronger or more affordable, calling the move unlawful and unwise. In a post on X, Harris said regime-change wars sold as strength often end in chaos, arguing the action was about oil and power rather than drugs or democracy. She accused the president of putting US troops at risk, destabilising the region and offering no clear legal authority or exit plan, while urging leadership focused on lowering costs, enforcing the rule of law, strengthening alliances and prioritising the American people.

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has been brought to the United States to face charges, according to officials familiar with the matter.

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were seen arriving earlier at the headquarters on 10th Avenue in New York City.

Members of the Venezuelan diaspora in the city of Doral in Florida rallied to celebrate the US’s removal of Maduro, who oversaw a period of deepening political repression in Venezuela, as wearing the colours of the Venezuelan flag, people cheered, waved signs and sang the country’s national anthem, as reported by the Al Jazeera.

A helicopter believed to be carrying Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro departed from a Manhattan heliport and was en route to the Metropolitan Detention Center, Brooklyn after he was processed at a federal facility. Video footage showed authorities escorting a figure wearing dark clothing and a hood toward the helicopter.

Democratic Representative Jake Auchincloss of Massachusetts said on Saturday that the US military operation in Venezuela and the reported capture of President Nicolás Maduro have “nothing to do with narco-trafficking.” Washington has justified the action by alleging that Maduro, his wife and other Venezuelan officials are responsible for narco-terrorism, drug trafficking and other crimes—charges that Caracas has rejected.

US President Donald Trump on Sunday said that many Cubans died in US airstrikes in Caracas. 

Meanwhile, a Venezuelan official told the New York Times that nearly 40 people died in the US airstrike.

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro arrived in Manhattan amid a heavy show of local and federal law enforcement at a city heliport.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Canberra is closely monitoring developments in Venezuela, urging all sides to prioritise dialogue and diplomacy to avoid further escalation.

In a message posted on X, Albanese said Australia remains concerned about the situation in Venezuela, particularly the need to uphold democratic principles, human rights and fundamental freedoms. He reiterated Australia’s support for international law and called for a peaceful, democratic transition that reflects the will of the Venezuelan people.

Following the airstrike on Venezuela, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani called Trump and expressed his dissent over the US's decision to nab Nicolas Maduro.

At least 40 people died following the US airstrike in Venezuela's capital city, Caracas, an official from the country told The New York Times. 

The airstrike, named Operation Absolute Resolve, was launched on January 3. The US troops nabbed President Nicolás Maduro following the attacks.

The Congressional Black Caucus blasted Trump over U.S. actions against Maduro, calling the operation “a grave and illegal abuse of power.”

“While Nicolás Maduro is, in fact, an illegitimate leader, the deployment of U.S. military power to impose political change in a sovereign nation — without the consent of Congress or a clear and defined plan of action — threatens to draw the United States into an indefinite conflict in Venezuela,” the caucus said in a statement.

(Inputs from the Associated Press)

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro was seen being escorted off an aircraft by more than a dozen federal agents after landing at Stewart Air National Guard Base in New York. At around 5:25 pm (US time), a person in custody was escorted off the plane, believed to be carrying Maduro. The person gingerly made his way down a stairway one step at a time, then was led across the tarmac surrounded by a crowd of at least three dozen federal agents.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney says his government welcomes the opportunity for freedom, democracy and prosperity for the Venezuelan people.

Carney notes in a post on a social media that Canada has not recognized the “illegitimate regime of Maduro since it stole the 2018 election.” He says Canada has long supported a “Venezuelan-led transition process that respects the democratic will of the Venezuelan people.”

Carney is calling on all parties to respect international law and says Canada stands by the “Venezuelan people’s sovereign right to decide and build their own future.”

People were seen holding placards saying "No war on Venezuela" outside the Stewart Air National Guard Base in Newburgh, where Nicolás Maduro landed on Sunday, as reported by NBC News.

The US has brought Nicolás Maduro to New York after capturing him on Saturday morning in Operation Absolute Resolve.

The United Nations Security Council is due to meet on Monday after the US attacked Venezuela and deposed its long-serving autocratic President Nicolas Maduro, a move that UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres views as setting "a dangerous precedent."

Colombia, backed by Russia and China, requested the meeting of the 15-member council, diplomats said. The UN Security Council has met twice - in October and December - over the escalating tensions between the United States and Venezuela.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu congratulated Trump on his “bold and historic leadership on behalf of freedom and justice.”

In a statement posted on his X account, the Israeli leader added “I salute your decisive resolve and the brilliant action of your brave soldiers.”

Major US airlines on Saturday cancelled hundreds of flights following a military operation in Venezuela that resulted in the capture of President Nicolas Maduro.

American Airlines, Delta, Spirit Airlines and JetBlue Airways began cancelling flights early on Saturday morning in compliance with Federal Aviation Administration airspace closures in the Caribbean.

The FAA closed the airspace "due to safety-of-flight risks associated with ongoing military activity," the agency said in a notice to airmen.

After removing President Nicolás Maduro from power, Donald Trump said that the US would run Venezuela at least for some time and would also tap the oil reserves of the country to sell to other nations.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Saturday that he was pleased to see the end of President Nicolás Maduro's rule in Venezuela and wanted a smooth transition to a government that better reflected the will of Venezuelans.

"We regarded Maduro as an illegitimate President, and we shed no tears about the end of his regime," Starmer said in a statement on the British government website. "The UK government will discuss the evolving situation with U.S. counterparts in the days ahead as we seek a safe and peaceful transition to a legitimate government that reflects the will of the Venezuelan people," he added.

Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez said that Nicolas Maduro is Venezuela's only president, after US President Donald Trump said she had been sworn in after Maduro was captured in a military operation in the South American nation in the early morning.

Rodriguez spoke on state television from Caracas with her brother, national assembly head Jorge Rodriguez, interior minister Diosdado Cabello and the foreign and defense ministers.

Rodriguez called for calm and unity to defend the country amid Maduro's "kidnapping" and said Venezuela will never be the colony of any nation.

Nicolás Maduro is expected to make an initial appearance in Manhattan federal court on Monday, after being captured by the US forces on Saturday.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani called the US operation that captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro an “act of war” and a violation of international and federal law. “Unilaterally attacking a sovereign nation is an act of war and a violation of federal and international law. This blatant pursuit of regime change doesn’t just affect those abroad, it directly impacts New Yorkers, including tens of thousands of Venezuelans who call this city home,” Mamdani said. “My focus is their safety and the safety of every New Yorker, and my administration will continue to monitor the situation and issue relevant guidance.”

After the successful Op Just Resolve, the Vice President of the United States, JD Vance, said that the Cuban authorities needed to be concerned. 

“If I lived in Havana and I was in the government, I’d be concerned at least a little bit," Vance said.

Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel condemned the attack on Venezuela as criminal. 

“The attack in the early morning hours against a peaceful and noble people can only be described as cowardly, criminal, and treacherous," the Cuban President said while addressing a rally in Havana. He also asked for proof of President Maduro's life.

Chuck Schumer, the Minority Leader of the United States Senate, called Donald Trump's decision to attack Venezuela "reckless."

“The idea that Trump plans to now run Venezuela should strike fear in the hearts of all Americans," the veteran senator said, as reported by the Associated Press.

US lawmaker Bernie Sanders strongly criticises Donald Trump's decision to launch an airstrike in Caracas. 

Taking the issue to Twitter, Sanders wrote, "Donald Trump has once again shown his contempt for the Constitution and rule of law. The President of the United States does not have the right to unilaterally take this country to war, even against a corrupt and brutal dictator like Maduro."

He also added that the attack would make the US and the world a less safer place.
 

Trump said a prolonged US administration of Venezuela would not burden American taxpayers, arguing that the country’s vast oil revenues would cover the costs.

Responding to questions about a years-long US presence, Trump said income from oil sales would be used to run Venezuela, calling the resources “very substantial” and insisting the US would be reimbursed for all its expenses.

(with inputs from AP)

US President Donald Trump vowed to fix Venezuela’s oil infrastructure and said the US plans to sell it to other countries.

“We’re in the oil business. We’re going to sell it to them,” Trump said during the news conference. The oil companies will pay for the rebuilding of Venezuela’s oil infrastructure, Trump said.

Gen. Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said the overnight operation to capture Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro was the result of months of meticulous planning aimed at minimising harm to Maduro, his wife, and civilians.

Caine said US forces remained on standby through Christmas and New Year’s, awaiting a narrow weather window that finally opened late Friday. “Last night the weather broke just enough,” he said, allowing elite aviators to fly helicopters at low altitude over water into Venezuela, with US aircraft providing air cover above.

Describing the assault as a surprise, precision strike, Caine said more than 150 aircraft from 20 different bases took part in the mission. The fleet included F-22, F-35 and F-18 fighter jets, B-1 bombers, support aircraft and multiple remotely piloted drones.

The aircraft were tasked with shielding the helicopters, which served as the “extraction force” responsible for capturing Maduro and his wife, Caine said.

He added that US forces encountered “multiple self-defence engagements” as they withdrew from Venezuelan airspace, but stressed that the timing of the operation was carefully chosen to reduce civilian risk while maximising surprise.

(with inputs from The Associated Press)

US President Donald Trump said no American were killed in airstrikes in Venezuela, asserting that the entire sequence of events was like watching a television show.

The US operation in Venezuela, where President Nicolas Maduro was captured and taken to the US, following airstrikes in that country was known as the Operation Absolute Resolve.

US President Donald Trump called his Venezuelan counterpart Nicolas Maduro a "narco-terrorism kingpin" and said he spoke to him several times about Venezuela's drug cartels following his capture in a sweeping US operation early today.

Earlier, Maduro denied speaking to Trump in an interview on New Year's Eve, saying he had only spoken to him back in November 2025.

US President Donald Trump said the operation carried out by US forces was an “assault like people have not seen since World War II” and that no other nation “could achieve what America achieved yesterday.”

“This was one of the most stunning, effective and powerful displays of American military might and competence in American history,” Trump said.

US President Donald Trump said his Venezuelan counterpart Nicolas Maduro was finally gone and that the Latin American country "was finally free", in his first press briefing following the US's strikes on Caracas.

US President Donald Trump said Washington will run Venezuela until such time "as we can do a safe, proper and judicious transition".

Addressing a news conference after the US struck Venezuela and captured President Nicolas Maduro, Trump said the US is going to have large oil companies go into the country.

"We are ready to stage a second attack if we need to do so," he said.

US President Donald Trump posted a first picture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, handcuffed and blindfolded, aboard the USS Iwo Jima, following his capture by US forces after airstrikes in Caracas.

China on Saturday condemned the US airstrikes on Venezuela and the capture of its president, Nicolas Maduro and his wife, describing it as a hegemonic act that seriously violates international law.

“China is deeply shocked by and strongly condemns the US’s blatant use of force against a sovereign state and action against its President,” the Chinese Foreign Ministry said, reacting to a question on US President Donald Trump’s announcement about American airstrikes against Venezuela and the capture of Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores.

(with inputs from Reuters)

Chile on Saturday expressed deep concern over the United States’s military actions in Venezuela, strongly condemning the use of force and calling for a peaceful resolution to the crisis gripping the country.

In a statement, President Gabriel Boric Font said Chile “condemns the military actions by the US taking place in Venezuela” and urged all parties to seek a political and diplomatic solution to the worsening situation.

“The Venezuelan crisis must be resolved through dialogue and with the support of multilateralism, not through violence or foreign interference,” Font said, underscoring Santiago’s call for international engagement aimed at de-escalation rather than confrontation.

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro was removed from power after refusing a negotiated exit, opposition leader Maria Corina Machado said in a statement posted on X on Saturday. Machado said opposition figure Edmundo Gonzalez, whom the opposition, the United States and international observers say won the 2024 election, should assume the presidency, adding that the opposition would restore order and release political prisoners.

Israel welcomed the ouster of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, its foreign minister said Saturday, after he was captured and removed from power by the United States.

"Israel welcomes the removal of the dictator who led a network of drugs and terror and hopes for the return of democracy to the country and for friendly relations between the states," Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said on X.

US President Donald Trump said Venezuela's Nicolas Maduro is aboard the USS Iwo Jima heading for New York, where he will face drugs and weapons charges in Manhattan federal court, CNN reported.

Russia urged the United States to release Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, in a statement issued by the Russian Foreign Ministry on Saturday.

"In light of confirmed reports that Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife are in the United States, we strongly urge the American leadership to reconsider its position and release the legally elected president of a sovereign country and his wife," the ministry said in the statement.

(with inputs from Reuters)

Authorities were checking vehicles at the Venezuela-Colombia border following the US's airstrikes on Venezuela and the capture of President Nicolas Maduro and his wife.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores were dragged from their bedroom by US forces during the raid that led to their capture, two sources familiar with the matter said.

Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan has "strongly condemned the blatant imperialist aggression by the US on Venezuela by bombing various strategic centres." He said the US's airstrikes were an act of terrorism and posed a threat to peace in Latin America.

The US will decide what's next for Venezuela and it will "be involved very much", US President Donald Trump told Fox News, hours after Washington conducted airstrikes on Caracas and captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife in a swift operation.

He also said that the US is going to be "very strongly involved" in Venezuela's oil industry.

Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Saturday condemned the US airstrikes on Venezuela and the capture of his Venezuelan counterpart Nicolas Maduro, calling it the crossing of "an unacceptable line."

"These acts represent a grave affront to Venezuela's sovereignty and yet another extremely dangerous precedent for the entire international community," Lula tweeted.

Lula had previously said that an armed intervention in Venezuela would be a "humanitarian catastrophe", and has offered Brazil to mediate disputes between the countries.

Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez is in Russia, four sources familiar with her movements said on Saturday, after President Donald Trump said President Nicolas Maduro had been captured by US forces after an attack on the country.

Her brother, Jorge Rodriguez, the head of the national assembly, is in Caracas, three sources with knowledge of his whereabouts said.

Delcy Rodriguez appeared in an audio message on state television earlier in the day, calling for proof of life of Maduro and his wife Cilia, while Jorge Rodriguez has not appeared since the attack.

(with inputs from Reuters)

US Vice President JD Vance said Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro is the latest leader to realise that President Donald Trump “means what he says,” and praised US forces carrying out airstrikes, describing them as a bold and highly effective operation.

As the US launched airstrikes on Venezuela and plucked President Nicolas Maduro and his wife out of the country, the Latin American nation faces three possible paths amid intensifying turmoil.

One option is a constitutional transition under Article 233, with Vice President Delcy Rodriguez stepping in as interim president and elections held within 30 days, though this hinges on regime unity.

Another scenario involves regime collapse, senior defections and an opposition takeover backing exiled leader Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia, endorsed by María Corina Machado.

A third, riskier path is a military takeover, with Defence Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez warning of resistance and prolonged instability.