BREAKING: Trump says US forces arrest Venezuelan President Maduro

United States President Donald Trump has claimed that the US carried out a “large-scale strike” on Venezuela in the early hours of Saturday, resulting in the capture of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, who were allegedly flown out of the country.

Trump made the claim in a post on his Truth Social platform, stating that American forces had successfully executed a military operation against Venezuela and its leadership.

“The United States of America has successfully carried out a large-scale strike against Venezuela and its leader, President Nicolás Maduro, who has been, along with his wife, captured and flown out of the country,” Trump wrote.

He added that the operation was conducted in conjunction with United States law enforcement agencies and said further details would be made public.

The announcement came amid reports of explosions and intense aerial activity over Caracas, Venezuela’s capital, and neighbouring states in the early hours of Saturday. Witnesses and international media reports cited loud blasts near strategic military locations, as well as sightings of low-flying aircraft across the region.

Venezuelan authorities have condemned the development, describing it as a military aggression by the United States. Reports indicated that explosions were recorded in Caracas and at least three surrounding states — Miranda, La Guaira and Aragua — prompting the government to urge citizens to mobilise in defence of the country.

In response, the Venezuelan government declared a state of emergency and called for national resistance, accusing the United States of what it termed “imperialist aggression” while asserting its right to defend its sovereignty.

However, as of the time of filing this report, there has been no official statement from the United States government confirming Trump’s claims. Defence authorities, including the Pentagon, have not publicly verified that such an operation took place.

International news agencies say they are continuing to monitor the rapidly evolving situation as global attention focuses on developments in Venezuela.