Maduro and Wife Seized in Overnight U.S. Operation The United States seized President Nicolás Maduro and First Lady Cilia Flores from their Fort Tiuna residence on a military base and placed them aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima bound for New York to face criminal charges [1][2][3][4][5]. The extraction occurred under cover of darkness and involved coordinated ground and air forces that targeted multiple sites in Caracas [3][4]. U.S. officials described the raid as “extraordinary” and months‑long in planning, having tracked Maduro’s routines in detail [1].

U.S. Declares Interim Governance and Oil Funding Strategy President Trump announced that the United States would administer Venezuela temporarily until a transition of power is arranged, emphasizing that oil revenues would be sold to fund the operation [1][2][3][4][5]. He asserted a U.S. presence was already in place, though no visible administrative structures had been established in the capital [1][5]. The plan frames the intervention as a short‑term stewardship rather than a permanent annexation [2].

Massive Aerial Campaign Involved Hundreds of Aircraft Gen. Dan Caine detailed a “meticulously planned” air assault employing more than 150 aircraft from roughly 20 bases, including fighters, bombers, drones, and helicopters that executed the extraction [2][3][4][5]. One report described the force as “hundreds of aircraft and bases,” creating a minor discrepancy in the exact count [1]. The operation lasted under 30 minutes, with rapid strikes on key military and civilian locations while minimizing civilian casualties [4].

Narco‑Terrorism Indictment Targets Maduro Duo The Justice Department filed a superseding indictment charging Maduro and Flores with a narco‑terrorism conspiracy linked to extensive drug‑trafficking networks, seeking to prosecute them in New York federal court [1][2][3][4][5]. The indictment reinforces U.S. claims of illegal activity at the highest levels of the Venezuelan government and underscores the legal justification for the capture [1].

Global Condemnation and Absence of U.S. Administration in Caracas The United Nations expressed deep alarm, warning that the strike sets a dangerous precedent and urging restraint [2][3][4][5]. Cuba, China, and Russia condemned the operation as a violation of sovereignty and international law [3][4][5]. Despite the U.S. claim of temporary rule, Venezuelan forces continued to guard the Miraflores Palace and other key sites, and no overt U.S. governance was evident in Caracas [1][5]. Commercial flights were halted over Venezuelan airspace, and regional airlines issued waivers for disrupted passengers [2].