The US struck targets in Caracas and detained President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, who the administration says will be sent to the United States to face criminal charges. The operation caps months of escalating pressure — including maritime strikes, a large Caribbean military buildup, covert CIA activity and an oil-tanker seizure — and raises legal, political and humanitarian questions. President Trump said the US would temporarily "run" Venezuela to oversee a transition and signaled US energy interests would play a role; however, the long-term plan and on-the-ground presence remain uncertain.
From Boat Strikes to Regime Change: How the US Detained Nicolás Maduro
The Venezuelan capital, Caracas, is seen at night after a series of explosions early in the morning on January 3, 2026. | Federico Parra/AFP via Getty Images
Summary: US forces conducted strikes in Caracas and detained Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, in an operation the White House described as unprecedented. The move follows months of escalating US pressure — including maritime strikes, a major Caribbean military buildup, covert intelligence activity and the seizure of an oil tanker — and raises questions about legal, political and humanitarian consequences.
What Happened
According to statements from the White House and US officials, American forces struck multiple, unspecified targets in Caracas overnight and took custody of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. President Donald Trump said the couple were flown out of the country and would be transported by ship to the United States to face criminal charges. The administration has not released a full accounting of casualties; the president suggested US service members may have been killed, but those reports remain unconfirmed.
Operation Details
US law-enforcement and intelligence personnel, reportedly including FBI agents and US special operations forces, participated in the detention. Gen. Dan Caine, described the action as an "unprecedented operation" carried out "in unison with our intelligence agency partners and law enforcement teammates." The Justice Department also unsealed a superseding indictment Saturday that adds charges against Maduro and names Flores and other relatives.
Legal and Political Context
Maduro has faced US criminal charges since March 2020, when the Southern District of New York indicted him on allegations including narco-terrorism, drug trafficking and corruption alongside other defendants. Separately, the administration designated the term "Cartel de los Soles" as a Foreign Terrorist Organization in November, a move critics say stretches the conventional meanings of both "terrorist" and "organization," since the phrase is used broadly in Venezuela to describe endemic criminality among officials rather than a single unified cartel.
Lead-Up: Months of Escalation
The detention is the latest step in a campaign that accelerated this fall. In September, the US struck suspected drug vessels — strikes US reports say killed scores of people — targeting trafficking networks including groups tied to Tren de Aragua. Washington also assembled a substantial military buildup in the Caribbean that included the USS Gerald R. Ford carrier strike group, B-52 bombers and special operations helicopters. The Trump administration authorized covert CIA activity inside Venezuela and seized an oil tanker off Venezuela's coast in December.
Trump's Intentions and Economic Motives
At a press conference, President Trump said the United States intends to "run the country until such time as we can do a safe, proper and judicious transition" — language that suggests a temporary US role in governance aimed at installing a more US-aligned authority. Trump also explicitly linked the intervention to American energy interests, saying US oil companies would invest billions to repair Venezuela's deeply damaged oil infrastructure, and warned the US was "ready to stage a second and much larger attack if we need to do so."
Domestic Opposition and Prospects for Transition
Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado hailed the operation, calling it "the hour of freedom," but analysts and US officials note there is no clear government-in-waiting with broad domestic legitimacy. Vice President Delcy Rodríguez and other elements of Maduro's government reportedly remain in place, complicating any immediate transition plan.
Risks, Legal Questions, and Uncertainties
Historical US efforts to effect regime change — in Latin America and elsewhere — have often produced unintended consequences. Key unknowns include whether the US will maintain a sustained ground presence in Venezuela, the legal basis for detaining and transferring a foreign head of state to face US prosecution, potential retaliatory actions, regional diplomatic fallout, and humanitarian impacts on Venezuelan civilians.
What to Watch Next
- Official US casualty and after-action reports clarifying whether American personnel were killed or wounded during the operation.
- Further details on the Justice Department's superseding indictment and the legal process for extraditing or trying Maduro and associates in the US.
- Responses from regional governments and international bodies, including any moves at the United Nations or Organization of American States.
- Evidence of a sustained US presence in Venezuela or formal plans for governance, reconstruction, and the role of foreign energy companies.
Note: This article synthesizes statements from US officials, the White House, and widely reported developments. Some details remain unverified and subject to official confirmation.
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