*Maduro and wife(Reuters)
President Donald Trump on Saturday claimed that the United States had captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, following what he described as a large-scale military operation inside Venezuela.
In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump said the operation involved a major strike against Venezuela and its leadership.
“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.
Reports emerging from Caracas earlier on Saturday spoke of loud explosions and sightings of low-flying aircraft over parts of the Venezuelan capital, fueling speculation about a possible military action. However, Venezuelan authorities had yet to officially confirm the whereabouts or status of President Maduro and his wife.
Senior officials in Caracas condemned what they described as “foreign aggression” and accused the United States of violating Venezuela’s sovereignty, while calling for calm among citizens. State media continued broadcasting regular programming, though security was reportedly heightened around key government facilities.
The alleged capture, if confirmed, would mark an unprecedented escalation in U.S.–Venezuela relations, which have been strained for years over sanctions, disputed elections, and allegations of corruption and drug trafficking against the Maduro administration
