U.S. forces reportedly executed a large-scale overnight raid in Venezuela and captured President Nicolás Maduro, President Trump said. Trump told Fox News that troops and a helicopter came under fire but there were no U.S. fatalities; several personnel were wounded and returned in good condition. The White House described the operation as "pinpoint" and said planners rehearsed using a replica of the target house; the Pentagon referred queries to the White House. The move prompted regional condemnation and a sharply divided reaction among U.S. politicians.
Trump Says US Forces Captured Nicolás Maduro in Overnight Raid; Troops Wounded, Helicopter Hit
The US carried out airstrikes in Venezuela early on Saturday.Luis JAIMES / AFP
U.S. officials say American forces carried out a large-scale overnight operation in Venezuela and captured President Nicolás Maduro, returning him to U.S. custody. President Donald Trump provided new details in a Fox News interview, saying troops and at least one helicopter came under fire but that there were no U.S. fatalities.
Trump described the target as a "very highly guarded" structure "like a fortress," saying U.S. forces closed in on Maduro before he could reach what the president called a steel‑surrounded "safety space." According to Trump, "a couple of guys" were hit during the operation but subsequently returned in "pretty good shape." He added: "We lost no aircraft; everything came back — we got it all back. One of them was hit pretty hard — a helicopter — but we got it back."
Details, Claims and Official Responses
The Pentagon referred questions about the president's remarks to the White House; the White House did not immediately provide additional public detail when asked. Trump said the raid was executed with "pinpoint" accuracy and that planners built a replica of the target house to rehearse the mission, a tactic reminiscent of the U.S. preparation before the 2011 raid on Osama bin Laden's compound.
Attorney General Pamela Bondi said Maduro has been indicted in the Southern District of New York on multiple drug-related charges and warned: "They will soon face the full wrath of American justice on American soil in American courts." The White House also said the operation was coordinated with American law enforcement agencies.
A destroyed air defense unit at a Venezuelan military base.Leonardo Fernandez Viloria/REUTERS
Context And Regional Reaction
The operation comes after months of increased U.S. military presence in the Caribbean — including warships, fighter jets and an aircraft carrier — and repeated U.S. warnings of possible action against Venezuela. U.S. forces have in recent months carried out strikes on vessels suspected of drug trafficking, actions Washington says killed more than 100 people, and have seized several Venezuela-linked oil tankers.
Caracas condemned the strikes, accusing the U.S. of targeting military and civilian areas. Video shared on social media showed helicopters flying low over Venezuelan terrain. Regional leaders quickly denounced the operation, Democratic U.S. lawmakers criticized the administration's use of force, and some Republicans voiced support.
Other Details
Trump said weather delayed the operation by several days, and that the mission ultimately benefited from "perfect weather." He also said the United States will be "strongly involved" in Venezuela's oil industry going forward.
"They're the most highly trained soldiers in the world," the president told Fox News, declining to name the specific U.S. units involved.
Note: The extraordinary nature of these claims — including the capture and removal of a sitting foreign head of state — means that official confirmation from the Pentagon, State Department and the White House will be important to verify details as they emerge.
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