European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated that the European Union stands with the people of Venezuela and supports a peaceful and democratic transition. Her remarks were shared in a post on social media platform X, as reported by Al Jazeera. Von der Leyen said the EU is closely monitoring the situation in Venezuela and urged respect for international law and the United Nations Charter in any resolution.

The European Union, comprising 27 European countries, functions as an economic and political alliance promoting peace, prosperity, and shared policies such as the free movement of people, goods, services, and capital. Its headquarters are located in Brussels, and it operates with its own parliament and currency, the euro.

The statement came after reports that the United States carried out attacks on civilian and military installations in several Venezuelan states on December 3, under orders from President Donald Trump, during which Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife were detained.

The United States’ recent military action in Venezuela has reignited discussion about Washington’s long-standing interventionist policies across Latin America. According to a report cited by Al Jazeera, such actions have historically been driven by goals of containing communism, protecting corporate interests, and maintaining strategic influence in the region.

The report outlines a series of US-backed interventions since the Cold War, including the 1954 CIA-supported coup in Guatemala, the failed 1961 Bay of Pigs invasion in Cuba, and the 1964 military coup in Brazil. Similar allegations of US involvement are noted in the Dominican Republic, Chile, Argentina, and several other nations, where political upheavals and military regimes followed. The 1980s saw US military and financial support in conflicts in El Salvador and Nicaragua, culminating in the Iran-Contra affair, as well as direct invasions of Grenada in 1983 and Panama in 1989.

The situation in Venezuela is described as a new chapter in this long history. Many Latin American countries reportedly fear that such interventions could deepen regional instability and division rather than promote peace.

US Delta Force carried out a military operation in Venezuela, detaining President Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores, according to reports published on January 3, 2026. The attack has triggered widespread international reactions, with several world leaders expressing concern and condemnation over the US action.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated that the United Kingdom was in no way involved in the operation and confirmed he had not spoken with President Trump about Maduro’s detention. Chilean President Gabriel Boric voiced concern and condemnation of the US military activity, while Colombian President Gustavo Petro called for an immediate United Nations meeting and announced troop deployment along the Venezuelan border. Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel denounced the attack as a criminal act and urged an urgent international response. Trinidad and Tobago’s Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar emphasized maintaining peaceful relations with Venezuela.

Venezuelan Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello urged citizens to remain calm and trust the country’s leadership and armed forces, saying the world should speak out about the attack.

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores were detained by the US military’s Delta Force following a nighttime assault in Venezuela, according to reports published on Friday night. Explosions were heard across several areas of Caracas during the operation. US President Donald Trump confirmed the detention on Saturday through a post on his social media platform Truth Social, stating that the United States had successfully carried out a large-scale attack against Venezuela and removed Maduro and his wife from the country.

Trump said the operation was conducted with the cooperation of US law enforcement agencies and announced a press conference at Mar-a-Lago at 11 a.m. local time to provide further details. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that Maduro would be tried in the United States, a claim later confirmed by Senator Mike Lee after speaking with Rubio. CBS News cited US officials saying the Delta Force, the top counterterrorism unit of the US military, carried out the detention.

The report did not specify Maduro’s current location or the immediate political implications for Venezuela following his capture.

Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez has demanded proof that President Nicolás Maduro is alive following claims by the United States that he and First Lady Cilia Flores have been captured. Rodríguez confirmed that the Venezuelan government does not know the whereabouts of either Maduro or Flores and has formally requested immediate evidence of their well-being.

Earlier, former US President Donald Trump announced on his social media platform Truth Social that US forces had successfully carried out a major operation against Venezuela, detaining Maduro and his wife and removing them from the country. US officials told CBS News that the operation was conducted by the Delta Force, a top US military counterterrorism unit. Explosions were reportedly heard across Caracas as the US assault began late Friday night, prompting Venezuela to declare a state of emergency.

In response, Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino announced the nationwide deployment of the military and condemned the attack as the “worst aggression” against the country, urging citizens to unite in resistance.

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.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump has announced that Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has been detained, though he did not disclose how or where Maduro was taken. The Venezuelan government has not yet confirmed the development. Trump stated that further details will be shared during a press conference scheduled for 11 a.m. EST at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida.

The United States has long accused Maduro of leading an international drug trafficking organization, allegations that he has consistently denied. Washington had previously offered a $50 million reward for assistance leading to Maduro’s capture. The report did not specify who carried out the detention or under what circumstances it occurred.

Further information is expected to be released at the upcoming press briefing, as both U.S. and Venezuelan authorities have yet to provide official confirmation or additional context regarding Maduro’s current location or condition.

U.S. President Donald Trump claimed on Saturday that American forces had captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, following a large-scale military operation in Venezuela. Trump made the statement on his social media platform Truth Social, saying the United States had successfully carried out a major strike against Venezuela and removed its leader and his spouse from the country. He added that the operation was conducted with the cooperation of U.S. law enforcement agencies and announced a press conference at Mar-a-Lago at 11 a.m. local time.

According to CBS News, U.S. officials said the elite Delta Force unit was responsible for detaining Maduro and Flores. The report also stated that the U.S. military began its assault late Friday night, with explosions heard across Caracas. Following the attacks, Venezuela declared a state of emergency, according to BBC sources.

Further details about the operation and the current status of Maduro and his wife are expected to be released later, as Trump indicated in his post.

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.