United States President Donald Trump says Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has been captured
and flown out of his country following a barrage of missile strikes on the South American nation.
Donald Trump, in a Truth Social post, said: “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. Details to follow.
“There will be a News Conference today at 11 A.M., at Mar-a-Lago. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”
Explosions had rocked Caracas, the Venezuelan capital, early Saturday.
Trump has repeatedly warned that the United States was preparing to take fresh action against alleged drug trafficking networks in Venezuela, saying strikes on land would begin soon.
In October, Trump said he had authorised the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) to operate inside Venezuela to curb illegal flow of migrants and drugs from the South American country.
The weekend strikes arrived on the heels of months of US military buildup in the region.
CBS reports that the USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier and numerous other warships have been positioned in the Caribbean for days on end.
The US recently seized two oil tankers off Venezuelan coast, launching strikes on more than 30 boats the Trump administration says were ferrying drugs.
The Trump presidency has pointedly accused Maduro of drug trafficking and working with gangs designated as terrorist organisations.
Maduro has repeatedly denied the allegations.
On Christmas Eve, Trump warned that if Maduro “plays tough, it’ll be the last time he’ll ever be able to play tough”.
