The New York Times reported that U.S. strikes in Venezuela killed "at least 40 people," including military personnel and civilians, citing a senior Venezuelan official and preliminary reports. Nicolás Maduro and his wife were captured and flown to the United States; Maduro faces federal charges in New York including narco-terrorism and cocaine-importation conspiracies. The indictment accuses Maduro and co-defendants of shipping "thousands of tons of cocaine." U.S. leaders and media reacted with a mix of praise and criticism, and the reported death toll remained unverified as of the evening report.
At Least 40 Reported Killed in U.S. Strikes as Nicolás Maduro Is Captured, Report Says
The New York Times reported that "at least 40 people were killed" in U.S. military strikes in Venezuela tied to an operation ordered by President Donald Trump to seize President Nicolás Maduro. The figure — which the Times attributed to a "senior Venezuelan official who spoke on condition of anonymity" — was described as coming from preliminary reports and has not been independently verified.
Casualties: The report said the casualties included both military personnel and civilians. By about 7:00 p.m. ET on Saturday, no other major outlets had confirmed the 40-death figure, and officials warned the toll remained unverified.
Maduro's Capture and Charges: Venezuelan authorities say Maduro and his wife were detained during the operation and flown to the United States. In federal court in New York, Maduro was indicted on charges including narco-terrorism conspiracy, weapons offenses, and cocaine-importation conspiracy. The indictment alleges Maduro and three co-defendants trafficked "thousands of tons of cocaine to the United States" and describes him as an "illegitimate ruler" who presided over a government that protected and promoted illegal activity, including drug trafficking.
U.S. Officials and Reaction: Speaking to reporters, President Trump said the U.S. would "run" Venezuela for the time being and promised the United States would "get the oil flowing the way it should be," saying America had "built that whole industry there." Trump later posted a photo on Truth Social showing Maduro aboard the USS Iwo Jima; the image of Maduro in a grey Nike sweatsuit briefly flooded the platform.
Political Response: The Washington Post hailed the operation as a "major victory for American interests." A handful of Democrats offered measured praise; Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz wrote on X that the capture of the "brutal, illegitimate ruler of Venezuela" was welcome news for Venezuelan exiles. Other lawmakers praised Maduro's removal but criticized the administration for not notifying Congress in advance; the White House said it withheld prior notice because of concerns about leaks.
Note on Verification: The reported death toll remains based on preliminary, anonymous Venezuelan sources and had not been corroborated by multiple independent outlets as of the evening report. Officials and news organizations were continuing to seek confirmation.
This story is developing and may be updated as additional verified information becomes available.
Help us improve.
