Caracas under fire: US strikes Venezuela after Trump threats, Maduro declares emergency

According to a US official, American forces carried out strikes as blasts rocked Caracas in the early hours, with explosions, aircraft movement and thick black smoke visible across the city for nearly 90 minutes.

The Venezuelan government said the attacks were not limited to the capital, but also hit civilian and military installations in the states of Miranda, Aragua and La Guaira.

Trump confirms 'attack'

United States President Donald Trump, in a post on Truth Social, confirmed the US attacks on Venezuela.

"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. This operation was done in conjunction with U.S. Law Enforcement. Details to follow. There will be a News Conference today at 11 A.M., at Mar-a-Lago. Thank you for your attention to this matter! President DONALD J. TRUMP," the US President wrote on Truth Social.

'Extremely serious military aggression'

President Nicolas Maduro described the strikes as an “extremely serious military aggression” and ordered the immediate mobilisation of Venezuela’s defence forces.

Power outages were reported in parts of southern Caracas near a major military base, adding to public fear and uncertainty as residents captured videos of bright orange flashes lighting up the night sky.

Venezuela’s government has accused Washington of deliberately targeting both civilian and military infrastructure, rejecting US claims that the operations were linked to drug trafficking.

In an official statement, Caracas alleged that the true objective of the attacks was to seize Venezuela’s vast oil and mineral resources, vowing that such attempts “will not succeed.”

Attack comes after Trump threats

The strikes come after a sustained US military buildup in the region, including the deployment of an aircraft carrier, warships and advanced fighter jets in the Caribbean.

Trump has repeatedly threatened land operations in Venezuela and has openly suggested that it would be “smart” for Maduro to step aside.

Washington, along with Venezuela’s opposition and several allied nations, has accused Maduro of rigging last year’s election to remain in power.

Trump has also sought to tighten sanctions, push for a blockade of Venezuelan oil, and expand a pressure campaign that has included strikes on vessels the US claims were involved in drug trafficking across the Caribbean and Pacific.

Last week, Trump publicly acknowledged a strike on a docking area allegedly used by drug boats in Venezuela, marking the first known land-based US operation in the country since the campaign began. 

While the White House declined to comment on the latest attacks, reports have suggested possible intelligence-agency involvement in earlier operations.

Trump has repeatedly labelled Venezuelan leadership as “narcoterrorists,” accusing Maduro—without providing evidence—of leading a trafficking network aimed at flooding the United States with drugs.

Venezuela has consistently denied these allegations and has condemned US actions as extrajudicial and unlawful.

Despite the sharp escalation, Maduro recently indicated that Venezuela remains open to negotiating a deal with Washington to combat drug trafficking.

However, he warned that the Trump administration’s approach makes it clear the US seeks to impose its will through “threats, intimidation and force.”

As tensions spiral, the strikes mark a dramatic new phase in US-Venezuela relations, raising fears of wider regional instability and further confrontation between Washington and Caracas.