US President Donald Trump on Saturday claimed that American forces had captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro following what he described as a “large scale strike” on Venezuela.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump 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.”
Trump added that he would address the media later in the day. He said he would hold a news conference at 11:00 am (1600 GMT) at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida.
The U.S. has accused Maduro of running a "narco-state" and rigging an election. The Venezuelan leader, who succeeded Hugo Chavez to take power in 2013, has said Washington wants to take control of its oil reserves, the largest in the world.
US media outlets, including CBS News and Fox News, earlier reported that unnamed officials in the Trump administration had confirmed the involvement of US forces, with CBS saying the attack was ordered by President Donald Trump.
Explosions reported in Caracas followed months of escalating US military and economic pressure on Venezuela’s leftist leader Nicolas Maduro and the oil-dependent economy of the South American nation.
A significant US naval and aerial presence has been built up in the Caribbean, including the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford and several other warships. As part of what Washington has described as an oil blockade, US forces have seized two tankers at sea and carried out aerial strikes that reportedly killed more than 100 people, targeting small boats accused of drug trafficking.
Trump has cited multiple reasons for his campaign against Venezuela, including allegations that the country is a major source of drugs entering the United States and claims that Venezuela seized US oil interests.
While the Republican leader has not explicitly called for Maduro’s removal, the US government — along with several European countries — does not recognise the Venezuelan leader’s legitimacy. Trump said in December that “it would be smart for (Maduro)” to step down and has also remarked that the Venezuelan leader’s “days are numbered.”
The reported attack on Caracas came just two days after Maduro sought to engage with Trump, offering cooperation on combating drug trafficking and illegal migration.
Trump earlier told reporters that the United States had struck and destroyed a docking area used by alleged Venezuelan drug boats, in what would be the first confirmed strike on Venezuelan soil during the campaign. Maduro has not commented on the incident.
The United States has refused to recognise Maduro as Venezuela’s legitimate president since elections held during Trump’s first term, which international observers said were marred by irregularities.
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