In the early hours of January 3, 2026, US forces entered Venezuela and struck multiple strategic targets, marking the first open attack by a foreign power on Venezuelan soil in its republican history.
Following the attacks, it was confirmed that President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, had been captured and removed from the country by US soldiers. While the government still officially retains control, officials have called on supporters to take to the streets and activate “active resistance” protocols in the coming hours.
Citizens remain on edge, awaiting more information about Maduro’s current whereabouts and the future of the government that has held power in Venezuela for 27 years. The international community appears divided, with some expressing support for and others condemning the operation.
Explosions Overnight
Around 1:00 a.m., social media users reported loud explosions in Caracas and several central cities. In areas such as the 23 de Enero parish, near the Miraflores Palace, multiple blasts shook the ground and windows. Columns of fire and smoke were also seen in other parts of the city.
Explosions were reported across Caracas, including neighborhoods such as Caricuao, El Paraíso, El Valle, Los Ruices, Altamira, Santa Mónica, and La California. Power outages were reported in some areas. Several videos circulated online, showing planes and helicopters believed responsible for the attacks.
Several strategic points in the capital were targeted, including Fuerte Tiuna, the country’s main military base. Hundreds of civilians living in buildings of the Gran Misión Vivienda Venezuela within the military zone were forced to evacuate, as attacks targeted key battalions stationed there.
Bombardments were also reported at La Carlota Air Base in eastern Caracas. Images from Associated Press show burn marks and impact sites on the runway, though hangars and aircraft remained intact.
So far, no collateral damage has been reported in civilian areas or institutional buildings, such as the Miraflores Palace or the Federal Legislative Palace. However, El Diario confirmed that one of the country’s main telecommunications stations in El Volcán, El Hatillo, was attacked. Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López stated that a general assessment of material damage, injuries, and casualties—mostly soldiers guarding the bases—is still underway.
In Other Cities
Beyond Caracas, authorities confirmed attacks in Miranda, La Guaira, and Aragua states. Targets included Libertador Air Base in Maracay (Aragua), Caracas Óscar Machado Zuloaga Airport in Charallave, and Higuerote Airport, both in Miranda state.
La Guaira was one of the regions most affected after Caracas. Videos on social media showed bombardments at the port of La Guaira, with the perimeter fence destroyed along with several shipping containers. Attacks were also reported at the Naval Military Academy in Catia La Mar, on Mamo Mountain near the Military Circle, and at the site of the former town of Carmen de Uria, where a Special Forces Training Complex was seen engulfed in flames.
Extraction of Maduro
Just hours after the attack, US President Donald Trump confirmed on Truth Social the involvement of a US special forces team in the strikes. He announced the capture of Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, who were flown out of the country. Details of the operation remain unclear, although officials told CBS that the Delta Special Operations Detachment was reportedly in charge of the mission.
La entrada What’s Happening in Venezuela: US Operation Targets Strategic Sites, Maduro Taken se publicó primero en El Diario Venezuela – elDiario.com.
