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US President Donald Trump on Saturday confirmed that the US conducted a "large-scale strike" in Venezuela, after explosions were heard in the capital city of Caracas. Trump also claimed that President Nicolas Maduro and his wife have been "captured" and "flown out of Venezuela" after the attack.
"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. This operation was done in conjunction with U.S. Law Enforcement," Trump said on Truth Social.
He added that his administration will give out more details soon and that he will be holding a press conference at 11 am local time at Mar-a-Lago.
The Venezuelan capital of Caracas reported at least seven explosions on Saturday, along with the sound of low-flying aircraft heard by many residents.
People in various neighbourhoods rushed to the streets. Some could be seen in the distance from various areas of Caracas.
Catch all the live updates on US-Venezuela tensions here
The explosions, which began at 2 am local time, have prompted the Venezuelan government to declare a state of emergency. Apart from this, the Nicolas Maduro-led government has called for the “mobilisation” of the population in the country.
The Maduro government in Caracas has condemned the incident.
“Venezuela rejects, repudiates, and denounces before the international community the extremely serious military aggression perpetrated by the current government of the United States of America against Venezuelan territory and people,” Maduro’s government said.
The incident comes amid tensions between the US and Venezuela, with President Donald Trump ramping up military pressure along the Pacific to deter the entry of alleged drug boats.
Trump, earlier this week, announced that the military launched a land attack on a docking facility in Venezuela targeting drug boats, a claim that has neither been confirmed nor denied by Caracas.
"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. This operation was done in conjunction with U.S. Law Enforcement," Trump said on Truth Social.
He added that his administration will give out more details soon and that he will be holding a press conference at 11 am local time at Mar-a-Lago.
The Venezuelan capital of Caracas reported at least seven explosions on Saturday, along with the sound of low-flying aircraft heard by many residents.
People in various neighbourhoods rushed to the streets. Some could be seen in the distance from various areas of Caracas.
Catch all the live updates on US-Venezuela tensions here
The explosions, which began at 2 am local time, have prompted the Venezuelan government to declare a state of emergency. Apart from this, the Nicolas Maduro-led government has called for the “mobilisation” of the population in the country.
Venezuela denounces ‘attack’
The Maduro government in Caracas has condemned the incident.
“Venezuela rejects, repudiates, and denounces before the international community the extremely serious military aggression perpetrated by the current government of the United States of America against Venezuelan territory and people,” Maduro’s government said.
The incident comes amid tensions between the US and Venezuela, with President Donald Trump ramping up military pressure along the Pacific to deter the entry of alleged drug boats.
Trump, earlier this week, announced that the military launched a land attack on a docking facility in Venezuela targeting drug boats, a claim that has neither been confirmed nor denied by Caracas.
