US Military Captures Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in Dramatic Raid

Capture of Nicolás Maduro

• 🇺🇸 US military forces captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, in a raid following a large-scale strike in Caracas.
• 📸 President Trump shared an image of Maduro on social media with the caption, "Nicholas Maduro on board the USS Euima."
• ⚖️ Attorney General Pam Bondi stated that Maduro and Flores have been indicted in the Southern District of New York, with Maduro facing charges including narco-terrorism conspiracy.

Military Operation Details

• ✈️ Over 150 aircraft, including bombers, fighters, and intelligence, reconnaissance, and surveillance aircraft, were involved in the operation.
• 💥 As forces approached Caracas, the joint air component dismantled and disabled air defense systems in Venezuela.
• 🛰️ Dramatic satellite images provided by Vantor show damage to sites in Caracas during the strikes.

Political and Business Implications

• 🗣️ The president stated that the US would remain in Venezuela until a proper transition could take place.
• 🛢️ Venezuela possesses over 300 billion barrels of oil, and developments regarding this stockpile could impact global crude oil prices.

Congressional Criticism and Defense

• 🏛️ Some members of Congress criticized the mission for lacking congressional approval.
• 🛡️ Secretary Rubio and the president defended the operation, citing its trigger-based nature and the risk of leaks if prior notification was given.
• 🤫 The president mentioned speaking with Maduro and giving him a chance to surrender, stating, "I actually thought he was pretty close to doing so, but now he wished he did."