Venezuela-US tensions LIVE UPDATES | Venezuela demands proof of life after President Maduro captured following US attacks
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has been taken into custody by US personnel and will be tried on criminal charges in the United States, according to Utah Senator Mike Lee.
Lee said US Secretary of State Marco Rubio personally informed him about Maduro’s arrest during a phone conversation on Saturday.
Sharing the details on X, Lee stated that the US military action witnessed overnight was carried out to safeguard officials involved in executing the arrest warrant.
He added that the operation was aimed at protecting US personnel from what was described as an actual or imminent threat.
Lee suggested that the move likely falls under the US president’s constitutional authority, citing Article II, which allows actions to ensure the safety of American forces.
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A photo claiming to show the capture of Nicolás Maduro is going viral on social media. The image purportedly shows officers of the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) taking Maduro away.
The DEA is a US government agency responsible for combating drug-related crimes. It carries out operations against illegal drug trafficking and works under the US Department of Justice.
Venezuela on Saturday strongly condemned US airstrikes, with Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello describing them as a “criminal and terrorist attack” targeting civilians and key national infrastructure.
Speaking from Caracas after assessing the damage, Cabello said the strikes had hit the country’s people, electrical facilities and the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. He added that military and police forces had been placed on high alert and were “ready for any situation that threatens the peace of the country.”
Calling for calm, Cabello urged citizens to trust the nation’s leadership and the political and military high command, while warning against panic. “This is not the first battle waged against our people,” he said.
Venezuela demands proof of life after President Maduro captured following US attacks
Mass migration to the US: Donald Trump has accused President Nicolás Maduro of policies that forced millions of Venezuelans to flee to the United States. He claims Maduro deliberately released criminals and patients from prisons and mental hospitals, pushing them toward the US.
Venezuela’s oil wealth: The US also has its eyes on Venezuela’s oil, as the country’s economy depends almost entirely on it. Venezuela exports around 900,000 barrels of oil daily, with China being its largest buyer. It is believed to hold the world’s largest oil reserves. Recently, the US seized a Venezuela-linked oil tanker, escalating tensions.
Drug trafficking concerns: Trump claims Venezuela has become a major hub for cocaine and fentanyl smuggling into the US. In response, he designated two Venezuelan criminal gangs, Tren de Aragua and Cartel de Los Soles, as foreign terrorist organisations, alleging that Maduro himself leads the Cartel de Los Soles.
Venezuelan Defence Minister Padrino López has ordered a large-scale deployment of the army across the country.
According to CNN, the capital Caracas has remained relatively calm in recent hours. López said that earlier, the sounds of several aircraft and helicopters were heard, but the city is now quiet, and people have not yet taken to the streets.
State-run television has been broadcasting continuous messages from the Ministry of Defence, urging citizens to remain calm and informing them that the military is being deployed nationwide.
The United States has claimed that Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has been captured. Earlier, US President Donald Trump posted on social media that Maduro and his wife, Cilia Adela Flores, are now in the custody of US forces and have been taken out of Venezuela.
Trump added that he will provide full details about the operation in a press conference at 8 PM IST. So far, there has been no response from Venezuela regarding Trump’s claim.
The operation follows US airstrikes on four Venezuelan cities around 2 am local time. According to CBS News, Trump had ordered attacks on military facilities and several key locations within Venezuela.
After the strikes, President Maduro issued a statement promising to respond to the attacks. He declared a nationwide state of emergency and accused the US of attempting a coup to seize Venezuela’s oil and mineral resources. One hour after Maduro’s statement, Trump announced that he had captured the Venezuelan president.
US President Donald Trump has claimed that the United States carried out a major operation against Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, during which Maduro and his wife were captured.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said that following the operation, Maduro and his wife were detained and sent out of the country.
Following the US attack, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro ordered the activation of the country’s defence plans.
This allows the President to temporarily restrict certain civil rights and expand the role of the military.
After the attack on Venezuela, the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) ordered American commercial flights to stop flying through Venezuelan airspace.
The FAA said the restriction was imposed due to security risks.
Following the strikes, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro issued a statement strongly condemning the US government for what he described as military aggression.
According to Venezuelan authorities, the attacks targeted civilian and military sites in Caracas as well as in the states of Miranda, Aragua and La Guaira.
The government said it would respond firmly to the strikes and accused the United States of attempting a coup. Venezuela has also called for an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council.
Fuerte Tiuna: The main military headquarters in Caracas and the country’s largest military base.
La Carlota: Caracas’ primary airbase, used for both military and civilian operations.
El Volcán: A communications centre located in the hills surrounding Caracas.
La Guaira Port: Venezuela’s major port near Caracas on the Caribbean coast.
Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro said the world should remain on alert amid reports of attacks on Venezuela’s capital. In a social media post, Petro claimed that Caracas was being bombed and called on the international community to take notice.
He urged the United Nations to investigate the matter and demanded an emergency UN meeting. However, Petro did not specify who was responsible for the alleged attacks.
The United States and Venezuela have long been at odds over oil assets. Donald Trump has claimed that Venezuela illegally took oil rights from American companies. However, in 1976, under then president Carlos Andrés Pérez, Venezuela legally nationalised its entire oil industry.
As part of this move, foreign oil companies—mostly US firms such as Exxon, Gulf Oil and Mobil—that had been operating in the country for decades transferred their operations and assets to the newly created state-owned company, Petróleos de Venezuela (PDVSA).
The nationalisation was carried out under the law, and compensation was paid, though some companies were dissatisfied. Because US firms had played a major role in developing Venezuela’s oil sector, some in the US still view these assets as American interests.
Venezuela has reportedly detained several US nationals in response to military actions by the Trump administration. According to a New York Times report, the arrests are taking place amid increased US military activity in the Caribbean Sea and the eastern Pacific Ocean.
The report said that so far, five American citizens have been taken into custody. A US official told the New York Times that the circumstances differ in each case. While some arrests may be legally justified, two Americans were wrongfully detained. The United States is now considering possible action in response.
US President Donald Trump said Venezuela is completely surrounded by what he described as the largest naval fleet ever deployed in South America’s history.
In December, Trump increased pressure on Venezuela by ordering a total blockade on sanctioned oil tankers travelling to and from the country. He claimed the move was aimed at stopping what he called the illegal use of oil, land and other assets.
Posting on his Truth Social platform, Trump said the naval blockade would be further expanded until Venezuela returns oil, land and other properties that he alleged were taken from the United States.
Speaking to reporters on December 22, Trump also said it would be wise for President Nicolas Maduro to step down from power, though he added that the final decision rests entirely with Maduro.
PTC Web Desk: Multiple explosions were heard across Venezuela’s capital Caracas in the early hours of Saturday, creating panic among residents. Loud blasts echoed through several neighbourhoods, while parts of the southern city near a major military base reportedly lost electricity.
According to media reports, at least seven explosions were heard in different parts of the city. Low-flying aircraft were also seen over Caracas, adding to fears among locals. Videos circulating on social media, though not officially verified, claim to show the moment the explosions occurred.
People rushed out of their homes in many areas, gathering on streets as confusion spread. Some residents also reported hearing gunfire from a distance.
US officials aware of reports
Sources cited by US media said officials in the Donald Trump administration are aware of reports about explosions and aircraft activity over Caracas. However, no official statement has been released so far by the US government or the Pentagon.
JUST IN: Multiple explosions are detonating in Venezuela’s capital, Caracas. pic.twitter.com/Uzon0D5l3l — Weather Monitor (@WeatherMonitors) January 3, 2026
Tensions between US and Venezuela
The incident comes at a time of growing tension between the United States and Venezuela. The Trump-led administration has taken several steps against President Nicolas Maduro’s government, including seizing oil tankers and carrying out at least one reported airstrike on Venezuelan territory in the past.
Caracas a las 2 de la Mañana #Caracas #venezuela pic.twitter.com/jh8URRlIvy — David (@anthonyseijas2) January 3, 2026
Trump has earlier warned that ground operations against Venezuela were also a possibility. The US military has also conducted multiple strikes on boats accused of drug trafficking in nearby seas, resulting in over 100 deaths, according to US military data.
Maduro rejects US allegations
President Nicolas Maduro has denied all allegations of criminal links. He has accused the United States of trying to overthrow his government to gain control over Venezuela’s vast oil reserves and mineral resources.
No official confirmation yet
As of now, neither the Venezuelan government nor US defence authorities have confirmed the cause of the explosions. The situation in Caracas remains tense, with many questions still unanswered.
- With inputs from agencies
