US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro will be tried in the United States. The statement followed confirmation from Senator Mike Lee, who said he had spoken with Rubio by phone regarding Maduro’s detention. Earlier, US President Donald Trump claimed that Maduro and his wife had been arrested following a large-scale US military operation in Venezuela.

According to a BBC report cited in the source, Senator Lee said Rubio did not expect further action in Venezuela now that Maduro was in US custody. Lee added that the US attacks were carried out to protect and defend those executing the arrest warrants. However, he also expressed concern on social media about the constitutional justification for such actions without a formal declaration of war or authorization for military force.

Trump stated on his Truth Social platform that the operation was conducted with the cooperation of US law enforcement agencies and that more details would be released later.

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores have been detained and are being transported to New York aboard a US warship, according to US President Donald Trump. In an interview with Fox News, Trump confirmed that the couple were taken from their palace by helicopter and are currently on the USS Iwo Jima. He stated that they would be brought to New York following their capture during a US military operation in Venezuela on Friday night.

Trump told Fox News that he had spoken with Maduro a week earlier, offering him a chance to step down and surrender before the attack. He said he personally told Maduro that he must relinquish power and surrender. US Vice President JD Vance also confirmed that Trump had proposed giving Maduro an opportunity before the assault.

The report further notes that following the operation, international reactions began to emerge, including comments from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and retired US General Ben Hodges, who warned of potential strategic missteps similar to those in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Russia’s Foreign Ministry has condemned the United States for launching an attack against Venezuela, calling the justification for the assault unacceptable. In a state statement issued on Saturday, Moscow urged Washington to exercise restraint and warned that the situation in Caracas had intensified following a series of early-morning explosions. Russia also reaffirmed its commitment to stand by Venezuela, following the path of Bolivarian leadership.

The ministry emphasized that ideologically driven hostility had overshadowed pragmatic relations and reiterated that dialogue is the only viable solution to the conflict. It expressed readiness to support diplomatic efforts aimed at resolving tensions. The statement further reaffirmed solidarity with the Venezuelan people and support for the country’s sovereignty and national interests.

The Russian Embassy in Caracas reported that it continues to operate normally and maintains constant communication with Venezuelan authorities and Russian citizens in the country. It confirmed that no Russian nationals were injured in the attack.

Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino announced the immediate deployment of the country’s armed forces across Venezuela following what he described as a US attack. In a video message delivered in Spanish on Saturday, Padrino called the assault the “worst act of aggression” against Venezuela and urged citizens to unite in resistance. He stated that the nation was following President Nicolás Maduro’s directives and declared that the attackers would not succeed in suppressing them.

Earlier, US President Donald Trump claimed that American forces had carried out a large-scale operation against Venezuela and detained President Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. Trump made the statement on his social media platform, Truth Social, adding that the operation was conducted with the cooperation of US law enforcement agencies and that further details would be shared at a press conference in Mar-a-Lago. CBS News cited US officials saying that the Delta Force, an elite counterterrorism unit, had captured Maduro and his wife.

According to BBC sources, explosions were heard across Caracas during the overnight assault, prompting Venezuela to declare a state of emergency.

Colombian President Gustavo Petro has published a post on social media platform X identifying Venezuelan regions affected by what he described as United States attacks. According to the report, the strikes targeted both civilian and military installations across several Venezuelan states. The post was shared on January 3, 2026, by the online outlet Amar Desh.

The report states that multiple areas in Venezuela were struck, though it does not specify the names of the affected regions or the scale of the damage. The information was presented as coming from Petro’s social media post, which highlighted the extent of the alleged US operations. The article also referenced related developments involving Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and broader US actions in Latin America.

The report underscores ongoing tensions in the region, with references to historical US involvement in Latin America and expressions of solidarity from European countries toward the Venezuelan people.

Multiple explosions struck military installations in Venezuela’s capital, Caracas, around midnight on Saturday, damaging key sites including La Carlota airbase and the main Fuerte Tiuna military complex, according to eyewitness reports. Several areas lost power, and unconfirmed reports described aircraft flying over the city. Following the attacks, the Venezuelan government declared a state of emergency and issued a statement condemning what it called a serious act of military aggression by the United States.

US officials confirmed to CBS News that President Trump had ordered strikes on various targets inside Venezuela, including military facilities. The Trump administration was reportedly aware of the explosions and air raids over Caracas early Saturday morning. The incident occurred amid heightened tensions between Washington and Caracas, as US operations against drug-trafficking vessels in the Caribbean continued.

The United States has long accused Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro of being illegitimately elected and personally involved in drug trafficking, while the Venezuelan government claims Washington’s actions aim to remove Maduro from power and seize control of the country’s oil reserves.

The United States has launched attacks on Venezuela, targeting both civilian and military installations across several states. According to the report, US President Donald Trump ordered strikes on Venezuelan military bases and other sites. In response, Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel strongly condemned the assault through social media, declaring his support for Venezuela and denouncing the US actions as criminal.

Díaz-Canel described the attacks as a brutal assault on what he called Cuba’s region of peace. He stated that the US move represented not only aggression against the Venezuelan people but also an act of state terrorism against what he termed “our America.” The Cuban leader concluded his statement with a revolutionary slogan expressing defiance and solidarity with Venezuela.

The report highlights growing regional tensions following the US military action, with Cuba reaffirming its alignment with Venezuela amid escalating hostilities.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has stated that no further action is expected in Venezuela following the arrest of President Nicolás Maduro. Rubio also confirmed that Maduro will be tried in the United States. His remarks came after US Senator Mike Lee confirmed Maduro’s detention, which had earlier been announced by former President Donald Trump.

According to a BBC report cited in the source, Senator Lee spoke with Rubio by phone and said the secretary of state does not anticipate additional measures in Venezuela now that Maduro is in US custody. Lee added that the US strikes in Venezuela were conducted to protect and defend those executing the arrest warrants. Earlier, Lee had questioned on social media how such actions could be constitutionally justified without a declaration of war or congressional authorization for military force.

Trump had previously written on his social media platform Truth Social that the United States carried out extensive strikes in Venezuela and detained Maduro and his wife with the cooperation of US law enforcement agencies.

The United States carried out airstrikes in Caracas, the capital of Venezuela, early Saturday morning. According to the report, US President Donald Trump ordered attacks on Venezuelan military bases and other locations across the country. The Venezuelan government issued a statement accusing the US of targeting both civilian and military installations and strongly condemning what it described as American military aggression.

In its statement, Caracas called on the international community to reject and denounce the US actions. Colombian President Gustavo Petro posted on social media that bombings were taking place in Caracas and urged the United Nations to intervene, though he did not name any country directly. The incident follows months of US naval operations in the Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean targeting drug trafficking, which have reportedly left 115 people dead.

Thousands of US troops and several naval vessels have been deployed in the region, and President Trump had previously hinted at possible military operations. The explosions in Venezuela occurred amid this heightened regional tension.

The United States has launched attacks on multiple civilian and military installations across Venezuela, including several states such as Caracas, Miranda, Aragua, and La Guaira. According to the report, U.S. President Donald Trump ordered the strikes targeting Venezuelan military bases and other sites. In response, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro declared a state of emergency across the country following the assaults.

The Venezuelan government issued a statement condemning what it described as U.S. military aggression, rejecting it before the international community. Caracas claimed that Washington’s actions were aimed at seizing Venezuela’s oil and mineral resources, but vowed that such attempts would not succeed. The attacks occurred amid heightened U.S. military activity in the Caribbean and Pacific, where operations against drug trafficking have reportedly killed 115 people in recent months.

Thousands of U.S. troops and several naval vessels have been deployed in the region, and President Trump has hinted at possible further military operations. The explosions in Venezuela took place against this tense backdrop, deepening the crisis between the two nations.

A series of explosions occurred in Venezuela’s capital, Caracas, prompting the Venezuelan government to accuse the United States of carrying out attacks on both civilian and military installations. In an official statement cited by Al Jazeera, Caracas condemned what it described as U.S. military aggression and called on the international community to reject such actions.

According to the report, the U.S. administration said it was aware of the explosion reports but did not issue an immediate response. Colombian President Gustavo Petro posted on social media that bombings were taking place in Caracas, warning the world about missile strikes on Venezuela, though he did not name any country. He urged the United Nations to intervene in the situation.

The explosions come amid heightened regional tensions, as the United States has been conducting naval operations against drug trafficking in the Caribbean and Pacific, resulting in 115 deaths. Thousands of U.S. troops and several naval vessels have been deployed in the area, and President Trump has hinted at possible military action.

Israeli military operations continued in Gaza despite an ongoing ceasefire, as residents faced worsening weather conditions. On Friday, marking the 84th day of the truce, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz reportedly instructed the army to prepare for intensified strikes. The military confirmed no orders had been received to reopen the Rafah crossing with Egypt. According to the Palestinian Health Ministry, one person was killed and another injured in the past 24 hours, bringing the ceasefire-period toll to 416 dead and 1,153 wounded, with 683 bodies recovered. Over two years of conflict have left 71,271 Palestinians dead and 171,233 injured.

The Palestinian Meteorological Department reported cold and unstable weather across Gaza, warning of heavy rainfall and possible flooding. A child died from severe cold in the Nuseirat refugee camp, raising the death toll from cold-related causes to 18 since December. Separately, a fire in a Gaza refugee camp killed three people, including a woman and a child, and injured five others.

In the occupied West Bank, Israeli forces and settlers jointly attacked Palestinian communities, damaging property and farmland, and arrested over 100 people in one week.

Multiple explosions occurred in Caracas, the capital of Venezuela, according to reports published on January 3, 2026. The United States confirmed awareness of the incidents but the Trump administration did not issue an immediate response. Colombian President Gustavo Petro claimed on social media that Caracas was under bomb attack and warned the world that missiles had been used against Venezuela, though he did not name any country. He also called for United Nations intervention.

The explosions come amid heightened regional tension. For several months, the United States has been conducting naval operations in the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean targeting drug trafficking, resulting in 115 deaths. Thousands of U.S. troops and several naval vessels have been deployed in the area, and President Trump has hinted at a possible military operation. The Caracas explosions occurred against this backdrop of military activity and diplomatic strain.

The situation remains fluid, with no official attribution or confirmation of responsibility for the explosions at the time of reporting.

Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, once close Gulf allies, have entered open hostility after years of quiet disagreements. On Tuesday, Saudi forces carried out an airstrike on Yemen’s southern port of Al-Mukalla, claiming it targeted a weapons shipment from the UAE intended for the separatist Southern Transitional Council (STC). Riyadh accused Abu Dhabi of endangering Saudi security through “dangerous behavior,” while the UAE dismissed the allegations as “fundamentally false.” The exchange has triggered a war of words between commentators from both nations.

Analysts cited in the report say the rift has been building for years, with disputes over oil policy, Sudan’s conflict, and Yemen’s internal divisions. The UAE supports paramilitary and separatist groups such as the STC and Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces, while Saudi Arabia backs national armies and seeks to preserve existing regional borders. The two also diverged over Somalia’s recognition of Somaliland, with the UAE absent from a joint condemnation led by Saudi Arabia.

Experts warn that the growing divide could reshape Middle Eastern alliances in 2026, as reconciliation mechanisms appear to have failed.

At least seven explosions were heard early Saturday in Venezuela’s capital, Caracas, amid escalating tensions with the United States. Media reports described black smoke rising from several parts of the city and low-flying aircraft overhead, prompting residents to rush into the streets. Videos circulating on social media showed smoke plumes and air raid sirens across the city.

Colombian President Gustavo Petro claimed that Venezuela had come under attack and called for United Nations intervention. Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro said he was ready to discuss drug trafficking issues with the United States but accused Washington of using sanctions and military pressure to try to overthrow his government and seize the country’s vast oil reserves. The Associated Press and Reuters both confirmed reports of multiple explosions and aircraft activity.

The incidents come as the United States continues maritime operations against drug trafficking in the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean, where 115 people have reportedly been killed in recent attacks.