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Trump says US oil firms to head into Venezuela
Maduro and wife to face ‘full might’ of US justice, Trump says
Trump says US caused Caracas blackout for Maduro operation
President Donald Trump said Saturday the US military caused a blackout in the Venezuelan capital Caracas so it could carry out a stunning operation to seize leader Nicolas Maduro.
“It was dark. The lights of Caracas were largely turned off due to a certain expertise that we have,” Trump told a press conference.
Trump says US ‘will run’ Venezuela until ‘safe’ transition
President Donald Trump said Saturday the United States will “run” Venezuela until a political transition can occur, after the spectacular US military operation to remove Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro from the country.
“We’re going to run the country until such time as we can do a safe, proper and judicious transition,” Trump told a press conference, adding that US forces were ready to conduct a second, “much bigger” wave of strikes if necessary.
Trump claims no US soldier killed, no equipment damaged in Venezuelan operation
US President Donald Trump told a press conference Saturday that “not a single member” of the US forces that took part in the strikes and subsequent capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro has been killed in the operation. Speaking from his residence at Mar-a-Lago, Trump also claimed that no US military equipment has been damaged.
Trump posts photo of handcuffed Maduro
US President Donald Trump on Saturday posted a photo of a handcuffed Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Truth Social, hours after he was captured, along with his wife, by US forces in Caracas.
The Venezuelan leader had on what appeared to be noise-canceling ear muffs, dark glasses and grey Nike-branded sweatpants and jacket.
According to Trump, Maduro was photographed on board a US navy vessel, the USS Iwo Jima.
How Nicolas Maduro took the presidency in Venezuela
Now 62 years old, Nicolas Maduro has led Venezuela since he was propelled to power after being designated by his predecessor, Hugo Chavez.
Backed by his revolutionary mentor, he narrowly won the 2013 presidential election. FRANCE 24 takes a closer look at how Maduro came to power.
Mexico condemns US strikes on Venezuela
President Claudia Sheinbaum made reference to Article 2 of the Charter of the United Nations by sharing Mexico’s position on social media, rejecting the United States’ aggression against Venezuela.
FRANCE 24 correspondent, author and journalist Ioan Grillo tells us the latest from Mexico City.
Venezuelans overseas celebrate after Maduro’s capture by the US
Venezuelans celebrate in Madrid on Saturday, January 3, 2026. @Bernat Armangue, AP
Venezuelans celebrate in Lima, Peru, Saturday, January 3, 2026. @Martin Mejia, AP
Venezuela’s ‘hour of freedom’ has arrived, says opposition leader Machado
Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado said Saturday the “hour of freedom” had arrived for her country after the United States seized strongman Nicolas Maduro from power.
Nobel Peace Prize laureate Machado, who has been in hiding since Maduro’s disputed reelection in July 2024, said in a post on X that opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia, whom the opposition says won the vote, “must immediately assume his constitutional mandate” as president.
“Venezuelans, the HOUR OF FREEDOM has arrived!” she posted.
Italy PM Meloni calls US military action in Venezuela ‘legitimate’
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni defended the US military action in Venezuela on Saturday, calling it legitimate “defence”, even as she said outside military force should not be used for regime change.
“The government believes that external military action is not the way to end totalitarian regimes, but at the same time considers defensive intervention against hybrid attacks on its security to be legitimate, as in the case of state entities that fuel and promote drug trafficking,” the far-right leader – an ally of US President Donald Trump – said in a statement.
Israel hails US operation in Venezuela, calls it ‘leader of free world’
Israel’s foreign minister on Saturday hailed the American nighttime operation in Venezuela that resulted in the capture of President Nicolas Maduro, saying Washington acted as the “leader of the free world”.
“Israel stands alongside the freedom-loving Venezuelan people, who have suffered under Maduro’s illegal tyranny. Israel welcomes the removal of the dictator who led a network of drugs and terror and hopes for the return of democracy to the country and for friendly relations between the states,” Foreign Minister Gideon Saar wrote on X.
US strikes on Venezuela originally planned for Christmas day
US strikes on Venezuela early Saturday that resulted in the capture of President Maduro and his wife were originally planned for Christmas day, FRANCE 24’s Fraser Jackson said, reporting from Washington DC.
“Trump gave the greenlight to capture Maduro days ago and that the troops were ready to strike on Christmas day but that was delayed because of the strikes in Nigeria,” he said, citing ABC news.
Meanwhile questions over the legality of the surprise operation are arising, Jackson said, noting that US President Donald Trump “did not ask Congress for permission” nor did he give them any warning that the strikes would happen.
Venezuelans worried about safety as govt-backed militias call for resistance
Venezuelans are voicing concern for their safety after the United States launched strikes on the country and captured President Nicolas Maduro, FRANCE 24’s Claire Paccalin reported.
She said one resident told her she was afraid to leave her home as government-backed armed militias reportedly took to the streets, calling for resistance in the wake of the strikes.
Not-so-covert ops: Trump moves against Venezuela’s Maduro
The United States carried out a “large-scale strike” on Venezuela early Saturday, capturing President Nicolas Maduro and his wife in an extraordinary operation announced by President Donald Trump on social media.
The dramatic escalation comes after months of intensified US pressure on Caracas, including covert efforts detailed in a recent Associated Press investigation that revealed an earlier CIA attempt to recruit Maduro’s trusted pilot to help remove him from power.
US aviation regulator shuts Caribbean airspace to commercial jets amid Venezuela action
The US Federal Aviation Administration on Saturday notified commercial airlines to avoid Caribbean airspace, citing a “potentially hazardous situation” amid US military operations to capture Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.
The notice said the closure was issued due to “safety-of-flight risks associated with ongoing military activity.”
France says military operation behind Maduro’s capture goes against international law
The United States’ military operation which resulted in the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro went against the principles of international law, said French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot on Saturday.
“The military operation that led to the capture of Nicolas Maduro violates the principle of not resorting to force, that underpins international law. France reiterates that no lasting political solution can be imposed from the outside and that only sovereign people themselves can decide their future,” Barrot wrote on X.
South Africa calls for urgent UN security council session over US action in Venezuela
South Africa has called for an urgent United Nations Security Council session following the unilateral military action by the United States in Venezuela, a statement by the country’s department of international relations said on Saturday.
“South Africa calls on the UN Security Council, the body mandated to maintain international peace and security, to urgently convene to address this situation,” the statement said.
“South Africa views these actions as a manifest violation of the Charter of the United Nations, which mandates that all
Member States refrain from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state,” it added.
UN chief worried international law not ‘respected’ by US in Venezuela
General Antonio Guterres is “deeply alarmed” after Washington’s strikes on Venezuela, his spokesman said Saturday, saying it could “constitute a dangerous precedent.”
The UN chief is “deeply concerned that the rules of international law have not been respected,” spokesman Stephane Dujarric said in a statement, adding that Guterres “calls on all actors in Venezuela to engage in inclusive dialogue, in full respect of human rights and the rule of law.”
China ‘strongly condemns’ US strikes on Venezuela
China said on Saturday it firmly opposes US military strikes on Venezuela and the capture of the country’s leader Nicolas Maduro, calling it a violation of international law.
“China is deeply shocked and strongly condemns the US’s blatant use of force against a sovereign state and its action against its president,” Beijing’s foreign ministry said in a statement.
“Such hegemonic behaviour by the US seriously violates international law, infringes upon Venezuela’s sovereignty, and threatens peace and security in Latin America and the Caribbean. China firmly opposes it,” it added.
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