US Commandos Dragged Nicolas Maduro, Wife From Bedroom During Raid At Military Base: Report

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and First Lady Cilia Flores were captured in a surprise nighttime operation carried out by US forces after being pulled from their bedroom, according to a report in CNN.

The couple was reportedly asleep in their home within the heavily guarded Fort Tiuna military complex in Caracas when American commandos entered the residence.

The operation was said to have been carried out by the US Army’s Delta Force, with assistance from the FBI, and concluded in less than half an hour. US officials stated that no American personnel were killed during the raid.

Reacting to the operation, US President Donald Trump said Maduro had been removed from what he called a “fortress.”

“He was in a fortress,” Trump told Fox News in a telephone interview.

“You know, that we had nobody killed was amazing,” he said, adding that a “couple of guys were hit, but they came back, and they’re supposed to be in pretty good shape.”

The rapid strike was launched in the early hours of Saturday, with US forces detaining Maduro and Flores and taking them out of Venezuela. American officials said the two are expected to face prosecution in the United States on narco-terrorism charges.

Residents in Caracas reported hearing multiple explosions during the brief assault. At least seven blasts were heard, allegedly hitting military targets. Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez said civilians and members of the armed forces were killed, though she did not specify how many.

Trump Says US Will ‘Run’ Venezuela

Trump said the US administration would assume responsibility for governing Venezuela on an interim basis, adding that the transition was already underway.

The operation followed months of mounting pressure from the Trump administration on Venezuela, alongside weeks of surveillance that tracked Maduro’s daily habits, including his movements, meals, and sleeping patterns.

Vice President JD Vance said the White House had repeatedly warned Caracas before authorizing the mission. “The President offered multiple off-ramps but was very clear throughout this process: the drug trafficking must stop, and the stolen oil must be returned to the United States,” Vance said.

US law enforcement agencies have long accused Maduro of leading a criminal network tied to cocaine trafficking and other offenses. Formal charges were announced by federal prosecutors in 2020, forming a key part of Washington’s broader campaign against the Venezuelan government, which has also included sanctions and diplomatic isolation.