Key Takeaways
- The United States launched "large-scale strikes" on Venezuela, with President Donald Trump claiming Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife have been "captured and flown out of the country" by U.S. forces.
- Venezuela's Vice President, Delcy Rodríguez, stated the government is unaware of Maduro's and his wife's whereabouts and demanded proof of life, while the Defense Minister declared a national state of emergency and ordered a general mobilization of all armed forces to resist the "invasion."
- U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau asserted that Maduro would "finally face justice for his crimes," as explosions rocked Caracas and other Venezuelan states, targeting civilian and military facilities.
- Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei responded to Trump's statements by declaring that Iran "will not surrender to the enemy," with Venezuela expressing solidarity with Tehran and condemning U.S. interventionist policies.
The United States initiated "large-scale strikes" against Venezuela early Saturday, January 3, 2026, with explosions reported across the capital city of Caracas and the states of Miranda, Aragua, and La Guaira. President Donald Trump confirmed the military action, stating that Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, had been "captured and flown out of the country" by U.S. law enforcement and elite Delta Force units. Trump described the operation as "brilliant" and lauded the "good planning" involved.
In a stark contrast to Trump's claims, Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez appeared on state television to declare that the government was unaware of Maduro's and his wife's whereabouts and demanded "proof of life." Simultaneously, Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López announced a general mobilization of all armed forces, declaring a state of emergency and vowing to resist the "invasion" with all their might. Padrino López condemned the presence of foreign forces on Venezuelan soil, asserting that the people would respond to what he termed "terrorist actions" and "criminal military aggression." The Venezuelan government accused the U.S. of attacking civilian and military facilities as part of an attempt at "regime change" aimed at seizing the nation's strategic resources, particularly oil and minerals.
U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau echoed the administration's stance, stating that Maduro would "finally face justice for his crimes." The U.S. had previously accused Maduro of drug trafficking and leading a "narco-terrorist" organization.
The escalating conflict drew international reactions. Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei issued a firm response to Trump's statements, asserting that Iran "will not surrender to the enemy." Venezuela, in turn, expressed solidarity with Iran, condemning the U.S.'s "interventionist positions" that they believe endanger regional stability. Cuba also condemned the U.S. actions as a "criminal attack," while Russia expressed deep concern and condemned the "act of armed aggression." Spain called for de-escalation, moderation, and respect for international law, offering to mediate for a peaceful resolution.
Ed Liston is a senior contributing editor at TheStockMarketWatch.com. An active market watcher and investor, Ed guides an independent team of experienced analysts and writes for multiple stock trader publications.