U.S. Captures Maduro, Plans to Control Venezuela’s Oil Amid Rising Death Toll
Updated (2 articles)
Capture and Immediate Legal Proceedings The U.S. special‑operations raid on January 3 seized former President Nicolás Maduro and First Lady Cilia Flores and flew them to New York, where they entered not‑guilty pleas on January 5 [1][2]. The operation sparked a rapid shift in Venezuela’s political landscape, prompting both domestic and international reactions. Authorities in Caracas labeled the raid a “violent foreign operation” targeting senior officials.
Conflicting Casualty Figures Highlight Human Cost Venezuelan military officials reported at least 24 officers killed, while Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello claimed the death toll reached 100 with a similar number injured [2]. Cuba added that 32 of its officers serving in Venezuela were among the dead, prompting a war‑crime investigation [2]. AP’s photo gallery documented funerals and burials, underscoring the personal losses but did not verify the higher figures.
U.S. Seeks Control Over Venezuela’s Oil Sector The Trump administration announced plans to oversee Venezuela’s oil exports, presenting the move as a stabilizing step and a lever for political transition [1]. Officials argue that managing global sales will curb illicit financing and support a post‑Maduro government, though critics view it as expanding U.S. influence over a critical resource.
Widespread Domestic Unrest Follows the Raid Caracas streets filled with women’s marches demanding Maduro’s return, performers on stilts dressed as the couple, and armed civilian groups asserting loyalty to the regime [1]. Families queued outside prisons hoping for releases, while military units conducted burials for fallen soldiers, illustrating a society under strain. The atmosphere remains polarized, with daily life disrupted by protests and heightened security.
Legal and Diplomatic Fallout Escalates Venezuela’s attorney general opened a war‑crime probe into the raid, citing Cuban casualties and the alleged mass killings [2]. Caracas has vowed legal action against the United States, and Cuba’s claim of 32 officer deaths adds an international dimension to the dispute. The combined military, governmental, and foreign responses suggest a protracted diplomatic confrontation ahead.
Sources (2 articles)
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[1]
AP: Tense week in Venezuela after Maduro capture by U.S. forces: Provides a day‑by‑day photo chronicle of Caracas life after the raid, details U.S. oil‑export plans, and describes public demonstrations and funerals .
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[2]
The Hindu: Venezuela buries officers after U.S. raid; government says at least 100 killed: Focuses on the military funeral, reports divergent death tolls (24 officers, 100 total, 32 Cuban officers), covers Maduro’s court pleas, and notes the war‑crime investigation .
Timeline
Jan 3, 2026 – U.S. forces conduct a night‑time raid that captures former President Nicolás Maduro and First Lady Cilia Flores and transports them to New York to face drug‑trafficking charges. The Venezuelan military reports that “at least 24 officers died” during the operation, underscoring the high‑cost nature of the assault on the regime’s security apparatus[2].
Jan 5, 2026 – Maduro and Flores appear before a U.S. federal court and enter not‑guilty pleas, setting the legal stage for a high‑profile trial that runs parallel to the political turmoil erupting back home[2].
Jan 7, 2026 – Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello tells state television that “at least 100 people were killed and roughly as many injured” in the U.S. raid, a figure that far exceeds the military’s earlier death toll and fuels accusations of a massive foreign‑backed massacre[2].
Jan 7, 2026 – The Venezuelan military stages a solemn funeral in Caracas for the fallen officers, with flag‑draped caskets, a gun salute, and a military orchestra, while National Guard units patrol the cemetery, signaling the government’s effort to honor its dead and rally public sentiment[2].
Jan 7, 2026 – Cuba announces that “32 of its officers were killed” while serving in Venezuela and the Venezuelan attorney general opens a war‑crime probe into the deaths, expanding the diplomatic fallout of the raid beyond Venezuela’s borders[2].
Jan 10, 2026 – A tense week unfolds across Venezuela as citizens confront the aftermath of the capture: women’s marches demand Maduro’s return, performers on stilts parody the deposed leaders, armed pro‑government civilians patrol streets, families wait outside prisons for promised releases, and daily burials continue, illustrating the deep social polarization and uncertainty gripping the nation[1].