CARACAS, Jan 3: The United States launched a “large-scale strike” in Venezuela early Saturday, capturing President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, in a dramatic overnight military operation, according to an announcement by US President Donald Trump. Trump disclosed the development on social media hours after the strike, saying the couple had been flown out of Venezuela following months of intensified pressure by Washington.

The legal basis for the US action, including whether Congress was consulted in advance, was not immediately clear. The swift operation, which removed a sitting head of state, drew comparisons with the 1990 US invasion of Panama that resulted in the capture of then-leader Manuel Antonio Noriega.

US Attorney General Pam Bondi said Maduro and his wife would face criminal charges following an indictment in New York. Trump stated that he would address the developments in a press conference later in the day.

The news triggered celebrations among Venezuelans in South Florida, where members of the diaspora gathered in Doral, a city near Miami with a large Venezuelan population. Participants waved national flags, shared food, played music and chanted slogans calling for liberty.

International reactions were mixed, with several global leaders urging restraint. European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said the EU had consistently questioned Maduro’s legitimacy but stressed that international law and the UN Charter must be respected. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez called for de-escalation, while Russia’s Foreign Ministry said it was “extremely alarmed,” describing the reported action as a possible violation of Venezuelan sovereignty. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the UK was not involved in the operation and emphasized the need to establish facts while upholding international law.

In Venezuela, reactions ranged from anger to fear. Supporters of Maduro staged protests in Caracas, demanding his immediate return. Caracas Mayor Carmen Meléndez joined demonstrators chanting messages of support for the detained president. Elsewhere in the capital, residents expressed anxiety over the unfolding situation, citing road blockades and uncertainty.

Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado’s representatives declined to comment on the US operation. Machado had recently resurfaced publicly after months in hiding and was honored with a Nobel Peace Prize during a visit to Norway.

Attorney General Bondi reiterated that Maduro and his wife would be prosecuted in the United States, vowing they would face American courts. Maduro was previously indicted in New York in 2020, though details regarding charges against his wife had not been publicly known until now.