Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López has condemned the US-led operation that captured President Nicolás Maduro, calling it a “cowardly abduction.” López said several of Maduro’s bodyguards were killed “in cold blood,” along with Venezuelan soldiers and civilians. The operation reportedly took place late Friday night in Caracas and surrounding areas, during which US forces detained Maduro and his wife. According to the report, Maduro is being held in a New York prison and is scheduled to appear in court Monday on charges of drug trafficking and illegal possession of weapons.

In a televised statement on Sunday, López expressed support for the Supreme Court’s decision to appoint Vice President Delcy Rodríguez as acting president. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump warned that Rodríguez would face serious consequences if she refused to cooperate with the United States.

The developments mark a sharp escalation in tensions between Venezuela and the United States, with leadership transition and legal proceedings now unfolding under intense international scrutiny.

Venezuelan interim president Delcy Rodríguez has formed a special commission to secure the release of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. The announcement was made on Sunday following Maduro’s ouster after a U.S. military operation in Caracas, according to AFP. The interim government initiated the move soon after the operation.

Rodríguez appointed her brother and National Assembly president Jorge Rodríguez, along with Foreign Minister Iván Gil, as vice presidents of the commission. Information Minister Freddy Ñáñez was also named as a member. The commission’s formation marks the interim government’s first formal step toward negotiating Maduro’s release.

Maduro, accused of drug trafficking and terrorism, was detained last Saturday in a New York prison. Authorities stated that he is scheduled to appear in court on Monday.

Around 2,000 supporters of Venezuela’s ousted president Nicolás Maduro demonstrated in Caracas on Sunday, calling for his release from a New York prison where he and his wife are being held by U.S. forces. The protesters, waving Venezuela’s red, blue, and yellow national flags, were joined by pro-Maduro paramilitary members and motorcyclists. One placard read “Free our president,” while another declared “Venezuela is not anyone’s colony,” referencing U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent statement that Washington would “administer” Venezuela for an unspecified interim period.

Maduro is scheduled to appear in a New York court on Monday to face U.S. charges of “narco-terrorism” linked to alleged cocaine trafficking. Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López said a large part of Maduro’s security team had been “cold-bloodedly killed,” along with military personnel and civilians, though he did not specify numbers. A group of doctors told AFP that about 70 people were killed and 90 injured during the unrest.

The protests underscore deep divisions in Venezuela following Maduro’s ouster and detention, as his supporters continue to challenge U.S. actions and interim control claims.

At least 80 people have been killed in a United States military operation in Venezuela, according to a senior Venezuelan official cited by The New York Times. The death toll is expected to rise. Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino said many members of President Nicolás Maduro’s security unit were among the dead. US President Donald Trump announced that Maduro and his wife had been captured during the operation and that the United States had established control over the country.

Maduro and his wife are being held in a New York prison and are scheduled to appear in court on Monday. They face charges of drug trafficking and collaboration with groups designated as terrorist organizations. Maduro has denied the allegations, while the current Venezuelan government has called for his release.

Nicolás Maduro Guerra, the son of the detained president, urged Venezuelans to take to the streets against what he called US aggression. In an audio message shared on social media, he vowed that the anti-imperialist socialist movement founded by former leader Hugo Chávez would endure.

Nicolas Maduro Guerra, son of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, has called on citizens to take to the streets against what he described as US aggression. In an audio message shared on social media, he vowed that the anti-imperialist socialist movement founded by former leader Hugo Chávez would endure. Addressing former US President Donald Trump, Guerra said Venezuelans would soon be seen marching with their national flag raised in defense of their dignity.

The call came after a US operation late Saturday reportedly captured President Maduro and took him to New York, where he and his wife, Cilia Flores, are being held in prison. Maduro is expected to appear in court on Monday. Speculation has emerged that someone from his inner circle assisted the US, a claim Guerra echoed by saying history would reveal the traitors. On Sunday, some Maduro supporters were seen protesting in Caracas, waving flags and carrying posters of the ousted leader.

US authorities have also accused Maduro Guerra of drug trafficking, though he has not been detained.

Thirty-two Cuban nationals were killed in a United States military operation in Venezuela aimed at capturing President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. The raid took place early Saturday in Caracas, and both Maduro and Flores were taken to the United States, where they are expected to appear in court on Monday on drug-related charges. Cuba’s government announced two days of national mourning on January 5 and 6 to honor the victims, according to a statement released in Havana.

The Cuban statement did not provide detailed information but confirmed that those killed were members of the country’s armed forces and intelligence agencies. It said they had fulfilled their security and defense duties with dignity and bravery, dying in direct combat against the attackers. Former US President Donald Trump told the New York Post that many Cubans lost their lives trying to protect Maduro, calling it a poor decision.

The incident has drawn attention to the involvement of Cuban personnel in Venezuela’s defense and the escalating tension surrounding the US operation.

US President Donald Trump has issued a stern warning to Venezuela’s new interim president, Delcy Rodríguez, saying she would face severe consequences if she fails to cooperate with the United States. In an interview with The Atlantic published on Sunday, Trump stated that Rodríguez’s fate could be worse than that of Nicolás Maduro if she does not act correctly. He argued in favor of regime change in Venezuela, claiming that nothing could be worse than Maduro’s government.

Meanwhile, detained Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro is scheduled to appear before a New York court on Monday to face charges of drug trafficking and weapons offenses, which he has denied. The United States reportedly carried out an airstrike in Caracas on Saturday, capturing Maduro and his wife, though Secretary of State Marco Rubio insisted the US is not at war with Venezuela.

Trump also issued a public warning to Colombian President Gustavo Petro following Maduro’s arrest and expressed concern about Cuba’s political and economic situation, hinting at possible military action against Colombia during a conversation with reporters aboard Air Force One.

Venezuelan interim president Delcy Rodríguez has called for a “balanced and respectful” relationship with the United States. Her statement came on Sunday, a day after U.S. forces carried out an attack in Caracas and detained leftist leader Nicolás Maduro. Rodríguez, who previously served as Maduro’s vice president, made the remarks through a message posted on Telegram.

In her message, Rodríguez emphasized that advancing toward a relationship based on mutual respect and balance between the two nations should be treated as a priority. She also invited the U.S. government to work together on a cooperative agenda focused on joint development.

The appeal marks Rodríguez’s first public statement following Maduro’s detention, signaling an attempt to reset diplomatic engagement between Caracas and Washington after a period of confrontation.

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro was arrested late Saturday night by US special forces in Caracas. The 63-year-old leader had previously, in an August speech, called US President Donald Trump a coward and challenged him to come and capture him. The arrest took place at a secured location in the Venezuelan capital, where Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were detained and taken into US custody.

On Sunday, the White House released a 61-second video on social media platform X mocking Maduro. The video interspersed clips of Maduro’s August remarks with footage of the Delta Force operation in Caracas and images of the detained couple. It also included a segment from a press conference where US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated that Maduro had a chance to avoid this outcome but lost it.

According to the report, Maduro and his wife face charges in the United States for cocaine importation and illegal possession of weapons. They are currently being held at a Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, New York.

BBC interviewed Mark Weller, director of the International Law Program at Chatham House, regarding the legality of the process by which Nicolás Maduro was removed and detained. Weller explained that the United States claims it can take legal action under its judicial system against drug trafficking, even when such activities involve foreign nationals. However, he questioned the legality of the operation that led to Maduro’s detention, describing the Friday night raid as an act of armed aggression.

Weller argued that there is no lawful justification for using force to detain someone in this manner and that the only legitimate procedure would have been through a United Nations mandate, which the United States did not have. He further described the idea that the United States could run Venezuela as a strange notion.

The discussion highlights ongoing international legal concerns surrounding the US approach to foreign interventions and the boundaries of jurisdiction in cross-border criminal enforcement.

Venezuela’s interim president Delcy Rodríguez, known as a close ally of Nicolás Maduro, has been sworn in by the country’s Supreme Court after the United States removed Maduro from power. The court itself remains loyal to Maduro’s political movement, and his supporters continue to occupy key positions in the state apparatus. Despite U.S. President Donald Trump’s earlier claim that the United States would run Venezuela, the report notes that Maduro’s allies still hold real control over the government.

Rodríguez has stated that Venezuela will defend itself, while Trump has expressed hope that she will cooperate with Washington, particularly regarding expanded U.S. access to Venezuela’s oil resources. Although U.S. troops are not currently present in Venezuela, Trump has not ruled out that possibility. The depiction of Maduro’s detention by the United States serves as a warning to his remaining loyalists.

The report adds that while Maduro’s allies remain in office on paper, their actual ability to resist U.S. pressure is uncertain, leaving questions about the country’s true sovereignty.

Pope Leo expressed deep concern over the situation in Venezuela following the fall of President Nicolás Maduro after U.S. intervention. Speaking at St. Peter’s Square in the Vatican during his Sunday prayer, the first American pope called for Venezuela to remain an independent and sovereign state. He emphasized the need to uphold human rights and the rule of law as enshrined in the Venezuelan constitution, urging the nation to avoid violence and pursue justice and peace.

The Pope stressed that the welfare of the Venezuelan people must stand above all political and geopolitical interests. His remarks came after U.S. President Donald Trump announced that the United States would take control of oil-rich Venezuela following an operation to capture Maduro, who was reportedly held in a New York detention center. The statement by Trump sparked renewed international debate and concern.

Pope Leo’s appeal is being viewed as a strong message in favor of a peaceful and law-abiding resolution to Venezuela’s ongoing crisis, highlighting the importance of sovereignty and human dignity amid global tensions.

A United States military operation in Venezuela has drawn global attention after American forces captured President Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores from the capital, Caracas. The unprecedented action, which took place late Friday local time, has been compared to past US interventions such as those in Panama and Iraq. US Attorney General Pamela Bondi said the couple will soon face the American justice system, while former President Donald Trump confirmed they are being taken to New York for trial under US criminal law.

Analysts have likened the event to the 1989 capture of Panamanian leader Manuel Noriega and the 2003 arrest of Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, though the Caracas operation occurred without prior warfare. Washington accuses Maduro’s government of using stolen oil revenues to fund drug trafficking and terrorism, allegations Venezuela denies. The US had recently imposed a total ban on Venezuelan oil tankers and labeled the government a terrorist organization.

The future of Venezuela remains uncertain. Observers suggest a possible return to democratic governance, with opposition figures María Corina Machado and Edmundo González Urrutia emerging as potential successors, though no clear path has yet been defined.

Satellite images have revealed significant damage at Venezuela’s Fuerte Tiuna, one of the country’s key military installations. The images, captured by Vantor and analyzed by BBC Verify, show that at least six structures within the complex have sustained severe damage. One image depicts smoke rising from a large red-roofed building, while three smaller buildings to its south appear almost completely destroyed.

The analysis provides a clearer picture of the extent of destruction at the site, though the cause of the damage has not been specified in the report. The repeated satellite observations suggest that the damage is widespread and concentrated in multiple areas of the facility.

Further details about the timing or source of the destruction were not included in the available information, leaving the broader context of the incident unclear.

China has condemned the United States for what it described as a clear violation of international law after US forces conducted a military operation that forcibly detained Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. In a statement issued on Sunday, China’s Foreign Ministry expressed concern and called for the immediate release of the couple.

Russia also voiced concern over the US attack in Venezuela and the transfer of Maduro and his wife to the United States. The Russian Foreign Ministry urged Washington to reconsider its position and emphasized the need for dialogue between Venezuela and the United States to resolve the issue. Moscow described Maduro as the legitimately elected president of a sovereign and independent country and demanded his and his wife’s prompt release.

Both Beijing and Moscow’s statements reflect strong opposition to the US action and highlight calls for diplomatic engagement rather than unilateral military intervention.