US military strikes Venezuela in coordinated operation to capture Maduro

The US launched a military strike on Venezuelan territory on January 3, 2026, capturing President Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores in an operation President Trump said was coordinated with the government in Caracas. The operation, dubbed Absolute Resolve, began around 2:00 a.m. local time and lasted roughly two and a half hours.

What happened in Caracas

US special forces struck military infrastructure in Caracas, targeting air defenses and military sites before moving to apprehend Maduro at his private compound. The entire operation clocked in at approximately 2 hours and 28 minutes.

At least seven US soldiers were injured during the operation. Venezuelan casualties were also reported, though precise figures remain disputed.

Following his capture, Maduro and Flores were flown to New York, where both face indictments on narco-terrorism and drug trafficking charges. Trump subsequently declared that the US would manage Venezuela until a political transition could occur.

The strike was the culmination of months of escalating US military activity directed at Venezuela. By late November 2025, at least 26 US operations targeting Venezuelan-linked vessels had been reported. A CIA drone strike in December 2025 preceded the main operation.

Venezuelan authorities, or at least those still loyal to Maduro, described the operation as an imperialist attack.

International reaction and legal questions

China condemned the strikes. Legal experts have raised concerns about potential violations of the UN Charter, specifically regarding the use of force against a sovereign nation.

The US Department of Justice indicted Maduro on drug trafficking charges back in 2020. The operation sent special forces into a capital city at 2 a.m. to enforce those charges by force.

What this means for markets and crypto

Venezuela holds some of the world’s largest proven oil reserves. Any disruption in governance introduces significant uncertainty into energy markets, and the question of who controls Venezuela’s oil infrastructure is now genuinely up in the air.

No cryptocurrency tokens were directly connected to the operation itself.

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