US military forces captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife in a daring midnight military operation during which precision strikes were carried out in Caracas and other regions on Saturday.
Explosions hit Fuerte Tiuna military base and La Carlota airfield in the capital, along with sites in Miranda, Aragua, and La Guaira states, prompting swift international condemnation led by Iran and Russia.
The US defended the operation as a targeted response to Venezuela’s alleged narco-terrorism.
Trump claimed on Truth Social that the strikes dismantled drug networks tied to Maduro, including cocaine shipments weaponised against America, building on prior naval actions against over 30 boats and indicted regime figures.
‘This is an American military attack’
Iran’s Foreign Ministry issued a sharp rebuke, labelling the strikes an “American military attack” on a sovereign nation and vowing solidarity with President Nicolás Maduro’s government.
“This brazen aggression exposes US imperialism’s thirst for Venezuela’s resources,” spokesperson Nasser Kanaani stated in Tehran, echoing longstanding anti-Western rhetoric amid Tehran’s ties to Caracas through oil deals and mutual opposition to sanctions.
Pentagon officials described it as precision hits under Operation Southern Spear, involving the USS Gerald R. Ford carrier group, aimed at securing “stolen” oil assets without broader invasion plans.
How have other countries reacted?
Russia said that the reported US military strikes on Venezuela have “no substantive basis” and are in violation of international law.
“Without a doubt, Venezuela has not posed any threat to the United States … Therefore, the current military operation, like the actions against Venezuela in recent days and weeks, have no substantive basis,” Deputy Speaker of the Federation Council Konstantin Kosachev wrote on Telegram.
“Order should be based on international law, not rules. International law has clearly been violated. Order established in this manner must not prevail,” Kosachev said, in the first reaction by a top Russian official to the incident.
He went on to express confidence that the “global majority will decisively distance itself from the attack on Venezuela and condemn it.”
Colombian President Gustavo Petro said he ordered the deployment of military forces to the Venezuelan border, following US strikes.
Petro described Washington’s actions as an “assault on the sovereignty” of Latin America and said they would result in a humanitarian crisis, according to AFP.
Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez said Havana “strongly” condemns the US attack and added it represents “cowardly acts against a nation that has not attacked the US or any other country.”
Spain offers to mediate in crisis
Spain on Saturday offered to mediate in the crisis between the US and Venezuela following US’ attacks.
“Spain calls for de-escalation and restraint,” the foreign ministry said in a statement, adding that “in this regard…it is prepared to offer its good offices to achieve a peaceful, negotiated solution to the current crisis”.
Venezuela seeks UN Security Council meeting
The Venezuelan government has sought a United Nations Security Council (UNSC) meeting after the US carried out strikes.
“Faced with the criminal aggression committed by the US government against our homeland, we have requested an urgent meeting of the United Nations Security Council, which is responsible for upholding international law,” Foreign Minister Yvan Gil said on Telegram.