The US has struck Venezuela and captured its President Nicolas Maduro, who has been taken out of the country, President Donald Trump said on Saturday.
The US has not made such a direct intervention in Latin American since the invasion of Panama in 1989 to depose military leader Manuel Noriega.
"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," Trump said in a Truth Social post.
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There was no immediate confirmation from the Venezuelan government.
The US has accused Maduro of running a "narco-state" and rigging an election. The Venezuelan leader, who succeeded Hugo Chavez to take power in 2013, has said Washington wants to take control of its oil reserves, the largest in the world.
When will we hear from Trump?
Trump is expected to provide more details at a 1600 GMT (7 pm Bahrain time) press conference at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida.
Venezuela has closed its border with Brazil.
The announcement was made by the head of Brazil's federal police.
Trump: few injuries, no deaths on our side from Venezuela operation
The US forces that captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Saturday suffered a few injuries and no deaths, President Donald Trump told Fox News.
Trump gives more details about the operation
After telling Fox News that US forces had suffered no deaths during the strikes, Trump also gave some other details about the operation.
- He said he was making decisions now on what's next for Venezuelan leadership
- He said the US was going to be strongly involved in Venezuela's oil industry
- Trump said he spoke to Maduro a week ago
- He said Maduro loyalists remaining have a bad future if they stay loyal
- He said he would look at whether opposition leader Machado will lead, right now Venezuela has a vice president
- Trump also said the operation waited four days for better weather
Trump says Maduro and wife will be taken to New York
Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores were taken to a ship after their capture by US forces and will be transported to New York, Trump also told Fox News on Saturday.
Trump said both Maduro and his wife had been indicted in New York.
Maduro was indicted in a US federal court in 2020 on narco-terrorism and other charges for running what prosecutors called a scheme to send tons of cocaine to the US through an alleged "Cartel de Los Soles". He has always denied that.
Venezuela's border with Brazil reopens
The governor of Roraima, Brazil's northernmost state that shares a border with Venezuela, told Reuters the border is open after a brief closure.
We reported the closure earlier on Saturday.
Trump says US will have large oil companies go into Venezuela
PALM BEACH, Florida: US President Donald Trump said on Saturday the United States will have large US oil companies go into Venezuela after the arrest of President Nicolas Maduro.
Trump said at a press conference at his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida that US forces were prepared for a second, larger attack as part of the operation to capture Maduro overnight, but that it was not necessary.
Trump says Maduro and his wife face US justice; air, land and sea used in operation
US President Donald Trump said Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife were seized in an overnight operation on Saturday and would face American justice, calling it one of the most successful military operations in US history.
"This was one of the most stunning, effective and powerful displays of American military might and competence in American history," Trump told reporters at his Mar-a-Lago resort.
He said US air, land and sea forces were used in the operation.
Trump says US will continue role in Venezuela until 'safe' transition
President Donald Trump said on Saturday the United States would continue to oversee its involvement in Venezuela “until such time as we can do a safe, proper and judicious transition,” signaling an open-ended US role.
Trump: Embargo on all Venezuela oil remains in full effect
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