US–Venezuela Conflict: Defence Minister Calls US Strikes ‘Criminal Military Aggression’

Several powerful blasts in Caracas and other Venezuelan states and a declared US strike have deepened the US-Venezuela conflict, with the whereabouts of President Nicolas Maduro and Cilia Flores unclear and Venezuelan officials accusing Washington of launching the “most criminal military aggression” against the country.

US President Donald Trump announced that Maduro and Flores had been “captured” and “flown out” of Venezuela after what Trump described as a large-scale operation involving US forces, while Venezuelan authorities insisted the nation would resist any foreign troop presence on its territory.

US-Venezuela conflict: strikes, reported capture and Maduro’s unknown location

Venezuela Vice President Delcy Rodríguez said on Saturday that authorities did not know where President Maduro and Cilia Flores were after attacks in Caracas, Miranda, Aragua and La Guaira during early morning hours, and requested that the US government provide proof of life for both leaders.

According to reports from IANS, Venezuelan newspaper El Nacional said Rodríguez made the demand in a phone conversation with state broadcaster Venezolana de Television, and that the Vice President urged supporters and security forces to organise amid the US-Venezuela conflict following the strikes.

US-Venezuela conflict: defence minister’s charge and social media message

Hours after the explosions, Defence Minister Vladimir Padrino appeared in a video message, accusing Washington of subjecting Venezuela to the "most criminal military aggression" and promising that Venezuelan forces and citizens would oppose any foreign military deployment that might follow the US action inside Venezuelan territory.

In the same context, Padrino’s statement was circulated on social media platform X. One post read: Venezuelan people have been subjected to the most criminal military aggression by the government of the United States, Venezuela Defence Minister pic.twitter.com/M7QnJKvWHu — Sidhant Sibal (@sidhant) January 3, 2026.

US-Venezuela conflict: details of alleged US military operation

El Nacional, citing sources who spoke to Fox News, reported that the night operation linked to the US-Venezuela conflict used Chinook helicopters and other special forces assets, suggesting a sizeable US military presence during the raid that targeted locations linked to Venezuela’s leadership.

Trump posted on his platform Truth Social: "The United States of America has successfully carried out a large-scale strike against Venezuela and its leader, President Nicolas Maduro, who has been, along with his wife, captured and flown out of the Country." Trump said US law enforcement supported the mission and promised more information at an 11 am press conference at Mar-a-Lago.

US outlets also reported that a unit from the US Army’s elite Delta Force detained Maduro, while Rodríguez told Venezolana de Television that "Delcy Rodríguez called on the population to become active in a civic-military fusion to defend the country," underlining calls for mobilisation within Venezuela during the US-Venezuela conflict.

The attacks linked to the US-Venezuela conflict were reported across several Venezuelan regions, as summarised below.

As the US-Venezuela conflict escalates, Venezuela’s leadership questions US accounts of Maduro’s status, the US administration claims a successful strike and capture, and both countries’ media highlight special forces involvement, leaving key facts, including the confirmed location and condition of Maduro and Flores, still unverified by independent sources.