Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel said on Sunday that 32 Cubans were killed when defending Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro during US. attack on Venezuela.

The Cuban president also declared a period of national mourning, noting that the fallen compatriots honorably fulfilled their duty and, through fierce resistance and heroic actions, embodied the spirit of solidarity shared by millions of Cubans.

Photo: a screenshot of Colombian Foreign Ministry website

The governments of Spain, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, and Uruguay have issued a joint statement on Sunday, expressing "deep concern and rejection of the military actions carried out unilaterally on Venezuelan territory," as "these actions constitute an extremely dangerous precedent for peace and regional security and endanger the civilian population," according to the joint statement in English on the website of Colombian Foreign Ministry website.

"We reiterate that the situation in Venezuela must be resolved exclusively through peaceful means, through dialogue, negotiation, and respect for the will of the Venezuelan people in all its expressions, without external interference and in accordance with international law. We reaffirm that only an inclusive political process, led by Venezuelans, can lead to a democratic, sustainable solution that respects human dignity," read the joint statement.

The six countries also "urge the Secretary-General of the United Nations and the Member States of the relevant multilateral mechanisms to use their good offices to contribute to the de-escalation of tensions and the preservation of regional peace." 

The six countries, in the joint statement, also expressed their concern "regarding any attempt at government control, administration or external appropriation of natural or strategic resources, which is incompatible with international law and threatens the political, economic and social stability of the region." 

The joint statement came after the US military forces carried out attacks and bombings in Venezuela's capital Caracas in the early hours of Saturday and other parts of the country and forcibly took Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife. 

Trump warns of second strike on Venezuela if current gov't doesn't behave

Venezuela's acting President Delcy Rodriguez held on Sunday her first cabinet meeting since the capture of President Nicolas Maduro by the United States, state TV reported.

A day earlier, the country's top court has ordered Rodriguez, Maduro's vice president, to assume role of acting president.

Venezuela's Bolivarian National Armed Forces on Sunday strongly condemned the "cowardly kidnapping" of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro by the United States.

In a statement read out on national radio and television, Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez also denounced that U.S. troops sent to Venezuela early Saturday murdered "in cold blood" a large part of Maduro's security detail, soldiers and innocent civilians.

Venezuela's military expressed its full support for the state of external emergency declared by the Venezuelan government following the U.S. strikes on several locations within Venezuela.

"Our institution will continue to employ all its available capabilities for military defense, the maintenance of internal order, and the preservation of peace," the armed forces statement said.

Padrino said the armed forces activated "the Full Operational Readiness Plan throughout the entire national territory and in perfect civilian-military-police coordination."

U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday threatened that Venezuelan acting president Delcy Rodríguez could "pay a very big price, probably bigger than" that of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, if she continued to refuse cooperation with the United States.

"If she doesn't do what's right, she is going to pay a very big price, probably bigger than Maduro," Trump said in a phone interview with The Atlantic. Maduro was taken by U.S. force away from his country on Saturday and is now in custody in New York to stand trial on alleged drug charges.

Trump made clear that he would not stand what he described as Rodríguez's defiant rejection of the armed U.S. intervention, according to the magazine.

Trump also stressed that the United States needs Greenland "absolutely," reaffirming that Venezuela may not be the last country subject to U.S. intervention, according to The Atlantic.

"We do need Greenland, absolutely," Trump said.

The European Union (EU) on Sunday urged all parties to show "calm and restraint" to prevent further escalation and to seek a peaceful solution to the crisis in Venezuela, following the U.S. military action against Venezuela.

In a statement issued by the EU's High Representative, the bloc said the principles of international law and the UN Charter "must be upheld" under all circumstances, adding that members of the UN Security Council have a particular responsibility to defend those principles.

The EU said in the statement that it supports a Venezuelan-led, sovereign transition to democracy, stressing that "the right of the Venezuelan people to determine their future must be respected."

While acknowledging the priority of combating transnational organized crime and drug trafficking, the EU stressed that these challenges must be addressed through sustained cooperation "in full respect of international law" and the principles of territorial integrity and sovereignty.

The bloc said it was in close contact with the United States and with regional and international partners to support dialogue among all parties aimed at a negotiated, democratic, inclusive and peaceful solution led by Venezuelans.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Sunday the Trump administration will continue striking alleged drug boats and seizing sanctioned oil tankers to and from Venezuela.

"We will continue to target drug boats if they try to run towards the United States," Rubio said on NBC News, adding that "we will continue to seize the boats that are sanctioned with court orders."

"We will continue to do that, and potentially other things, until the things we need to see addressed are addressed," he said.

For months, the United States has deployed large-scale air and naval forces in Caribbean waters near Venezuela as part of its so-called campaign against narco-terrorism. The Pentagon has sunk more than 30 alleged drug boats in the Caribbean and the eastern Pacific since September, claiming about 110 lives.

At least 40 people were reportedly killed in U.S. airstrikes on the South American nation in the early hours of Saturday as U.S. forces carried out an operation to take by force Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, who were flown out of their country by the U.S. military and are now in custody in New York.

Chadian Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Sabre Fadoul spoke with his Venezuelan counterpart by telephone on Saturday, expressing "deep concerns" following the U.S. military action against Venezuela, according to a statement.

Fadoul voiced his deep concern over the situation and reiterated Chad's firm commitment to respect for international law, on which the existence of a just and peaceful world order depends, the statement said.

The United States launched a military strike on Venezuela on Saturday, during which Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife were captured and flown out of the country.

"Chad recalls the importance of preserving peace, stability and the territorial integrity of Venezuela in a bid to avoid unnecessary suffering of the brotherly people of Venezuela," the statement said.

China always opposes the use or threat of force, as well as any imposition of one country's will on another, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Sunday when speaking of the situation in Venezuela.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks when holding the Seventh Round of China-Pakistan Foreign Ministers' Strategic Dialogue with Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar in Beijing.

Wang said the current international situation is more volatile and intertwined, with unilateral bullying becoming increasingly severe.

The sudden change of situation in Venezuela has drawn high attention from the international community, Wang said.

"We never believe that any country can play the role of world policeman, nor do we agree that any country can claim itself to be an international judge," Wang said, adding that the sovereignty and security of all countries should be fully protected by international law.

On the first day after the US' attack on Venezuela, most of the local people stayed at home, preparing for a possible second attack. Photo provided by the interviewees

Editor's Note:

In a shocking move, the US captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, flying them out of the South American country during an assault on Caracas and surrounding areas.

Several nations have strongly condemned the US for its attack on Venezuela. As the world watches how the situation in Venezuela unfolds and what local residents are experiencing, Global Times reporters spoke with several Venezuelans to bring readers this scene from the local perspective. 

Breaking

China expresses serious concern over the US' forcible control of President Nicolas Maduro and his wife and their transfer out of the country. The US' move is in clear violation of international law and the basic norms in international relations and the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on Sunday in response to reports that on January 3, the US sent forces to seize Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife and took them out of the country and the governments of multiple countries have voiced opposition.

China calls on the US to ensure the personal safety of President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, release them at once, stop toppling the government of Venezuela, and resolve issues through dialogue and negotiation, the spokesperson said.

US President Donald Trump announced on Saturday that the US carried out a "large scale strike against Venezuela" and claimed that President Nicolas Maduro and his wife had been captured and removed from the country. Trump also posted on social media a photo of Maduro on board USS Iwo Jima after captured as the latest development of the US military operation. 

The US military action against the South American nation has shocked the international community. Several countries have issued strong condemnations over the US for its attack on Venezuela. 

On Saturday, the Chinese Foreign Ministry has voiced the deep shock and strong condemnation against the US blatant use of force against a sovereign state and action against its president.

Photo: a screenshot of NBC News helicopter video showing Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro arriving at Stewart International Airport in New Windsor, New York, on local time January 3, 2026.

More details about the US military's capture of Venezuela's President Nicolás Maduro have been revealed, disclosing how CIA source inside Venezuelan government helped track Maduro. 

According to a New York Times (NYT) report on Saturday local time, a CIA source within the Venezuelan government monitored the location of Nicolás Maduro in both the days and moments before his capture by American special operation forces, citing people briefed on the operation.

AFP also reported on Saturday evening local time that US intelligence agents had been secretly monitoring Maduro's every movement since August 2025, despite his widely reported efforts to regularly change locations as tensions mounted with Washington.

"How he moved, where he lived, where he traveled, what he ate, what he wore -- what were his pets," Joint Chiefs Chairman General Dan Caine said Saturday, AFP reported.

Photo: a screenshot CCTV News video showing local residents in Caracas, the capital of Venezuela, line up outside a store on January 3, 2026.

On-site visits by reporters with Chinese media in Caracas, the capital of Venezuela, on Saturday found that most shops were closed, long queues formed in front of some pharmacies and supermarkets, and some metro lines were not operating normally, after US large-scale attack on the South American country and captured Venezuela's President Nicolás Maduro on early Saturday. 

"It is now 8:30 in the morning. As you can see, there are not many pedestrians on the streets, and there are few vehicles on the main roads. Most shops remain closed. I just passed a 24-hour pharmacy and noticed a long queue in front of it. After asking around, people said they were lining up to buy necessary medicines and some daily essentials," Liao Kaidi, one of the China Media Group (CMG) reporters in Caracas, observed. 

Lei Xiangping, another CMG reporter said that "I am now at a square in downtown Caracas. Normally, this place is bustling with many people coming here to take photos, drink coffee, and shop. But today, as you can see, the metro station behind me has hardly any pedestrians, and the metro is not operating normally."


Lei added that as he just drove toward the presidential palace and noticed a supermarket that was still open. "There is now a long queue of people in front of it. We tried to interview some local residents, but many of them were unwilling to be interviewed, and their expressions were very tense and solemn."


Venezuelan vice president, Delcy Rodriguez, called Maduro's capture "barbaric," an "illegal and illegitimate kidnapping" and an attack on Venezuela's sovereignty, CBS News reported on Sunday.

Brazil's interim Foreign Minister Maria Laura da Rocha on Saturday said Brazil recognizes Venezuela's Vice President Delcy Rodriguez as the head of state in the absence of President Nicolas Maduro.

She added Brazil will continue to support international law, and all countries in safeguarding their sovereignty, and oppose any form of territorial aggression.

On the same day, the Brazilian Foreign Ministry said in a statement that President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva reiterated his previous position and condemned the U.S. attack on Venezuela as well as the capture of Maduro and his wife.

Defense Minister Jose Mucio said the situation in Roraima state, which borders Venezuela, remains stable.

He added that Brazil has deployed 10,000 military personnel in the Amazon region, with 2,300 stationed in Roraima.

Protests break out in multiple cities across the US following the arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro on January 3, 2026 local time. In Los Angeles, California, demonstrators took to the streets to protest US President Donald Trump's military actions in Venezuela and the detention of President Maduro and his wife. Photo: IC

US Democratic lawmakers on Saturday showed their anger and distress in the aftermath of the US raid and capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro early Saturday morning, Xinhua News Agency reported on Sunday. 

They said that Congress had not been notified in advance and that US President Donald Trump's administration had previously lied to Congress about its goal in the oil-rich South American nation. Meanwhile, they demanded an immediate briefing on the operation and on the White House's next move, according to Xinhua. 

"Secretaries Rubio and Hegseth looked every Senator in the eye a few weeks ago and said this wasn't about regime change. I didn't trust them then and we see now that they blatantly lied to Congress," US Senator Andy Kim wrote in a post on X. Last year, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told members of Congress that regime change in Venezuela was not their goal, Xinhua reported. 

Jason Crow, a Democrat on the House Armed Services and Intelligence committees, agreed: "The Trump Administration repeatedly lied to Congress and the American people about Venezuela. Over and over, officials testified that this was not about regime change."

Jeanne Shaheen, a Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said that the Trump administration has "consistently misled" lawmakers, leaving Congress in the dark on any US "long-term strategy" concerning Venezuela.

Venezuela's Supreme Court has ordered Vice President Delcy Rodriguez to assume role of acting president after President Nicolas Maduro's capture, according to media reports on Saturday.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, who were captured in a large-scale U.S. military strike on Venezuela early Saturday morning, will be sent to the Metropolitan Detention Center in New York, according to a report by CNN.

The military aircraft carrying the couple landed at the Stewart Air National Guard Base in Newburgh, New York State around 5 p.m. (2200 GMT) on Saturday afternoon, according to multiple reports and video footage.

Maduro and a few others will face charges of narco-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine importation conspiracy, possession of machine guns and destructive devices, and conspiracy to possess machine guns and destructive devices next week in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, according to an unsealed indictment released by the U.S. Department of Justice on Saturday.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said he called U.S. President Donald Trump directly on Saturday to express his opposition to "a pursuit of regime change to the violation of federal, international law." Some people demonstrated against the U.S. military action in Venezuela outside the Newburgh air base.

Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez demanded the "immediate release" of the Maduro couple at a session of the National Defense Council broadcast by a state television channel on Saturday.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Sunday that his government is monitoring developments in Venezuela, calling for diplomacy to prevent escalation.

In a post on social media site X on Sunday morning, hours after the U.S. military launched strikes on Venezuela and reportedly captured President Nicolas Maduro, Albanese said that Australia urges all parties to support "dialogue and diplomacy in order to secure regional stability and prevent escalation."

He said that Australia has long held "concerns about the situation in Venezuela" and supports international law and a peaceful, democratic transition in the South American nation.

Updated advice for Australians issued on Sunday by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade's Smartraveller service advised citizens against traveling to Venezuela.

It said that the security situation is unpredictable and may worsen.

Photo: a screenshot of NBC News helicopter video showing Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro arriving at Stewart International Airport in New Windsor, New York, on local time January 3, 2026.

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife have reportedly landed at Stewart International Airport in New Windsor, New York, on Saturday afternoon, per the US media NBC News. Video from an NBC News helicopter appeared to show Maduro walking off a jet around 5:25 pm at an airfield around 50 miles north of Manhattan. He appeared to wear a gray sweatshirt and shackles as he walked down the stairs of the plane and into a hangar, surrounded by federal agents, NBC reported. 

The Reuters news agency reported that Maduro is expected to make his first appearance in a Manhattan court on Monday to face allegations of narcotics conspiracy.

Maduro and his wife have been charged with narco-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine importation conspiracy and weapons offenses, said the NBC report.

Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez has demanded the "immediate release" of the couple at a session of the National Defense Council broadcast by a state television channel. Maduro is "the only president" of Venezuela, she said, the Xinhua News Agency reported.

US President Donald Trump posts photos to social media showing him monitoring the US military operation in Venezuela overnight on January 3, 2026. Photo: Screenshot of NBC News report

US President Donald Trump posted photos to social media showing him monitoring the US military operation in Venezuela overnight alongside Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, CIA Director John Ratcliffe and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine, among others, NBC reported on Saturday. 

At 4:21 on Saturday morning, Trump sent a message on his Truth Social platform: the US had carried out a daring mission to capture Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Reuters reported. 

The action came as a surprise, but according to sources familiar with the matter, planning for one of the most complex US operations in recent memory had been in the works for months and included detailed rehearsals, per Reuters. 

Trump said in a press conference on Saturday that the US would "run" Venezuela on a temporary basis during the transition, and "get the oil flowing," CBS News reported. 

People demonstrate near the Miraflores Palace in Caracas, the capital of Venezuela, on Jan. 3, 2026. The U.S. military launched a series of attacks against Venezuela early Saturday morning, reportedly capturing President Nicolas Maduro and flying him out of the country. (Photo: Xinhua)

A person demonstrates near the Miraflores Palace in Caracas, the capital of Venezuela, on Jan. 3, 2026. The U.S. military launched a series of attacks against Venezuela early Saturday morning, reportedly capturing President Nicolas Maduro and flying him out of the country. (Photo: Xinhua)

A person demonstrates near the Miraflores Palace in Caracas, the capital of Venezuela, on Jan. 3, 2026. The U.S. military launched a series of attacks against Venezuela early Saturday morning, reportedly capturing President Nicolas Maduro and flying him out of the country. (Photo: Xinhua)

This photo taken on Jan. 3, 2026 shows damage caused by an airstrike at the port of La Guaira, Venezuela. The U.S. military launched a series of attacks against Venezuela early Saturday morning, reportedly capturing Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and flying him out of the country. (Photo: Xinhua)

Venezuelan Ambassador to South Africa Carlos Feo Acevedo on Saturday strongly condemned U.S. military aggression against Venezuela, describing it as a "clear kidnapping" of President Nicolas Maduro and a serious violation of international law.

Acevedo made the remarks during an interview with Russia Today, a Russian media group. "It is a clear violation and a clear criminal terrorist act perpetrated by the U.S. administration against Venezuela," he said, accusing Washington of breaching international norms, including the UN Charter, as well as its own domestic laws.

The United States conducted "criminal strikes against the people of Venezuela," the ambassador said, noting that the objective was to exert control over the country's natural resources.

The U.S. military launched a series of attacks against Venezuela early Saturday morning, during which Maduro was captured and flown out of the country along with his wife. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi said Maduro will face trial in the United States.

At least 40 people, including civilians and soldiers, were killed in a large-scale U.S. military strike on Venezuela early Saturday morning, U.S. media reported, citing a senior Venezuelan official.

U.S. Democratic lawmakers on Saturday showed their anger and distress in the aftermath of the U.S. raid on Venezuela and capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro early Saturday morning.

They said that Congress had not been notified in advance and that U.S. President Donald Trump's administration had previously lied to Congress about its goal in the oil-rich South American nation. Meanwhile, they demanded an immediate briefing on the operation and on the White House's next move.

"Secretaries Rubio and Hegseth looked every Senator in the eye a few weeks ago and said this wasn't about regime change. I didn't trust them then and we see now that they blatantly lied to Congress," U.S. Senator Andy Kim wrote in a post on X. Last year, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told members of Congress that regime change in Venezuela was not their goal.

Jason Crow, a Democrat on the House Armed Services and Intelligence committees, agreed: "The Trump Administration repeatedly lied to Congress and the American people about Venezuela. Over and over, officials testified that this was not about regime change."

Jeanne Shaheen, a Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said the Trump administration has "consistently misled" lawmakers, leaving Congress in the dark on any U.S. "long-term strategy" concerning Venezuela.

Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez said on Saturday that Nicolas Maduro is "the only president" of the South American nation.

Rodriguez made the statement during a live speech on a state-run television station Saturday afternoon, adding that Venezuela will never become a colony of any country.

Accompanied by the ministers of the interior, foreign affairs and other officials, the vice president demanded that the United States release Maduro and his wife, and urged the Venezuelan people to remain calm, face the challenges together and defend national sovereignty.

Noting that the attack on Venezuela may happen in any other country in the region in the future, Rodriguez said Venezuela is ready to defend its natural resources and will never become a colony of any country or a slave of any empire.

The United States launched a large-scale military operation against Venezuela in the early hours of Saturday, seizing Maduro and his wife.

The UN Security Council will hold an emergency meeting on Monday on the U.S. operation against Venezuela, the council presidency told Xinhua on Saturday.

"The presidency intends to hold the emergency meeting on Monday morning at 10 a.m. (1500 GMT)," said Khadija Ahmed, spokeswoman for the Somali Permanent Mission to the United Nations. Somalia holds the rotating presidency of the Security Council for the month of January.

The United States launched an operation on Saturday and captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife in Caracas.

A plane carrying Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, who were captured in a large-scale U.S. military strike on Venezuela early Saturday morning, has arrived at a New York military base, according to local media.

Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez has demanded the "immediate release" of the couple at a session of the National Defense Council broadcast by a state television channel. Maduro is "the only president" of Venezuela, she said.

The latest U.S. strikes on Venezuela and its capture of Maduro have drawn worldwide condemnation and concern.

The UN Security Council announced Saturday that it will hold an emergency meeting on Monday on the U.S. operation against Venezuela.

Russian and Belarusian foreign ministers strongly condemned U.S. aggression against Venezuela during a phone call, the Russian foreign ministry said on Saturday.

During the call, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Belarusian Foreign Minister Maxim Ryzhenkov exchanged views on the situation surrounding Venezuela, stressing that Moscow and Minsk are united in condemning actions in violation of international legal norms.

They also stressed the unconditional necessity of the immediate release of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, their return to the country's capital, and the restoration of Maduro to the post of head of state.

The two sides further noted the importance of swiftly creating conditions for resolving the situation around Venezuela through dialogue in accordance with international law, the ministry said.

This combination of pictures created on August 07, 2025 shows US President Donald Trump (L) in Grand Rapids, Michigan on November 5, 2024, and Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro (R) in Caracas on July 31, 2024. Photo: VCG

US President Donald Trump announced on Saturday that the US carried out a "large scale strike against Venezuela" and claimed that President Nicolas Maduro and his wife had been captured and removed from the country. Trump also posted on social media a photo of Maduro on board USS Iwo Jima after captured as the latest development of the US military operation. 

The US military action against the South American nation has shocked the international community.

China on Saturday night said it is "deeply shocked" and strongly condemns the US' blatant use of force against a sovereign state and action against its president, warning that Washington's actions seriously violate international law and threaten regional peace and security.

"Such hegemonic acts of the US seriously violate international law and Venezuela's sovereignty, and threaten peace and security in Latin America and the Caribbean region. China firmly opposes it," a spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry made the remarks on the US military strikes on Venezuela on Saturday night. 

"We call on the US to abide by international law and the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, and stop violating other countries' sovereignty and security," said the spokesperson.

Trump says US oil companies would fix Venezuela's infrastructure, "and start making money for the country"

Trump says "we are going to run the country" until there is a transition

Trump posted a photo of Maduro on board USS Iwo Jima

US President Donald Trump said Saturday that Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were taken to a ship after being captured by US forces and will be transported to New York.

Trump told Fox News that the pair have been indicted in New York and will be transferred to the state.

He said he watched the overnight operation that led to their capture, which was "literally like I was watching a television show."

Maduro was "in a house that was more like a fortress than a house" with "solid steel all around" when captured, said Trump.

Trump did not rule out the possibility of a second strike against Venezuela following Maduro's capture.

US Attorney General Pam Bondi said Saturday morning that Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro will "soon face the full wrath of American justice on American soil in American courts" after he was captured and flown out of the oil-rich South American nation.

"Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, have been indicted in the Southern District of New York," Bondi wrote on social media X. She said Maduro has been charged with narco-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine importation conspiracy, possession of machine guns and destructive devices, and conspiracy to possess machine guns and destructive devices against the United States.

US Republican Senator Mike Lee said on X early Saturday that Secretary of State Marco Rubio had told him by phone that Maduro was arrested and will "stand trial on criminal charges in the United States."

"This action likely falls within the president's inherent authority under Article II of the Constitution to protect US personnel from an actual or imminent attack," Lee said.

US President Donald Trump announced early Saturday morning that Maduro and his wife had been captured and flown out of Venezuela amid the US military's large-scale strike against the country.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said that Britain was "not involved in any way" in the US operation in Venezuela, according to British media reports on Saturday.

In remarks recorded for British broadcasters, Starmer said he had not spoken to US President Donald Trump about Washington's capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.

"It is obviously a fast-moving situation and we need to establish all the facts," he said, adding that he is seeking more information before making further comment.

Starmer said there were about 500 British nationals in Venezuela, and that the government was working with the embassy to ensure they were well looked after, safeguarded and given appropriate advice.

US President Donald Trump said on Saturday that the United States has struck Venezuela and captured its President Nicolas Maduro, who was flown out of the country along with his wife.

Picture of fire at Fuerte Tiuna, Venezuela's largest military complex, after a series of explosions in Caracas on January 3, 2026. Loud explosions, accompanied by sounds resembling aircraft flyovers, were heard in Caracas around 2:00 am (0600 GMT) on January 3, an AFP journalist reported. Photo: VCG

After the US military strikes on Venezuela on Saturday, which reportedly led to the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Chinese military affairs experts analyzed how the US Delta Force carried out the mission, while stressing the illegality of the US invasion of a sovereign state.

US President Donald Trump claimed Saturday in a Truth Social post that Venezuelan President Maduro and his wife were captured and flown out of Venezuela, the Xinhua News Agency reported.

In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump wrote that "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." He said the operation was conducted "in conjunction with US Law Enforcement," adding that further details would follow. Trump also announced that a news conference would be held at 11 am local time at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida.

According to CBS News, the Venezuelan president was captured early Saturday morning by members of the US Army's elite Delta Force, the US military's top special mission unit, citing US officials. The report also noted that the unit previously carried out the 2019 mission that killed former Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.

The Permanent Mission of Venezuela to the United Nations on Saturday sent a letter to Abukar Dahir Osman, president of the Security Council for January, condemning "brutal, unjustified and unilateral" US armed attacks against the South American nation.

The letter also put forward four demands: an urgent Security Council meeting to discuss the US aggression, a strong condemnation of the aggression against Venezuela, an immediate halt to US military attacks, and measures to hold Washington accountable for its "crime of aggression."

US military forces bombed civilian and military sites in the capital of Caracas and other cities in the states of Miranda, Aragua and La Guaira earlier Saturday, and carried out attacks across the country with helicopters and airplanes, it said.

The letter noted that the attacks constituted a flagrant act of aggression that is premeditated, acknowledged and publicized by Washington, and that they "flagrantly" violated the UN Charter.

The US attack was carried out against a country in full peace, it said, noting that it aims at toppling the current Venezuelan regime and imposing a "puppet government" to plunder the country's oil resources.

Picture of fire at Fuerte Tiuna, Venezuela's largest military complex, after a series of explosions in Caracas on January 3, 2026. Loud explosions, accompanied by sounds resembling aircraft flyovers, were heard in Caracas around 2:00 am (0600 GMT) on January 3, an AFP journalist reported. Photo: VCG

US President Donald Trump announced early Saturday that the US had carried out a "large-scale strike against Venezuela," claiming that Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife had been captured and taken out of the country. The announcement quickly drew international attention and was also widely reported by Taiwan regional media.

"The United States of America has successfully carried out a large scale strike against Venezuela and its leader, President Nicolás Maduro, who has been, along with his wife, captured and flown out of the Country," Trump wrote on Truth Social.

Many media outlets in Taiwan closely followed the development. For instance, the China Times created a dedicated keyword tag for "US air raid on Venezuela" to aggregate related reports and updates. Meanwhile, the latest coverage on the Economic Daily News was dominated by reports on Venezuela and the escalating disputes between the US and Venezuela.

A report by Now News titled "Who Is Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, Who Was Taken Away by Trump?" noted that on Saturday, the US military launched a large-scale surprise attack on Venezuela. After carrying out a series of pre-dawn airstrikes on multiple locations across the country, US President Donald Trump announced that Venezuelan President Maduro and his wife had been arrested and escorted out of the country, describing the move as a swift "decapitation" operation.

Fire at Fuerte Tiuna, Venezuela's largest military complex, is seen from a distance after a series of explosions in Caracas on January 3, 2026. The US military was behind a series of strikes against the Venezuelan capital Caracas on Saturday, which reportedly led to the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, US media reported. Photo: AFP

China is deeply shocked by and strongly condemns the US' blatant use of force against a sovereign state and action against its president. Such hegemonic acts of the US seriously violate international law and Venezuela's sovereignty, and threaten peace and security in Latin America and the Caribbean region. China firmly opposes it, Chinese FM spokesperson made the remarks on the US Military Strikes on Venezuela.

"We call on the US to abide by international law and the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, and stop violating other countries' sovereignty and security," said the spokesperson.

Global Times 

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Venezuela accused the US forces of hitting residential areas in a wave of strikes early Saturday, and announced a major deployment of military resources. The "invading" US forces "have desecrated our soil, going so far as to strike, using missiles and rockets fired from their combat helicopters, residential areas populated by civilians," said Venezuela's Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez in a video statement shared on social media, according to media reports.

According to reports of the Sputnik News on Saturday, US strikes on Venezuelan territory have affected the capital, the states of Miranda and Aragua, and several other locations across the country, Lopez said.

With Venezuelans nervously wondering what would come next, Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello appeared on state TV on a street and wearing a helmet and flak jacket, urging people not to cooperate with the "terrorist enemy," Reuters reported.

Cabello said Venezuelans should not fall into "despair" and avoid making it easier "for the enemy invader, the enemy terrorist that cowardly attacked us," according to the NBC News.

According to the report, Venezuela has requested an urgent meeting of the UN Security Council in response to the US attack on the country, Foreign Minister Yván Gil Pinto said. "No cowardly attack will prevail against the strength of this people, who will emerge victorious," he said on Telegram, sharing the letter sent to the UN.

A flag installation ceremony was held outside the United Nations Security Council chamber at UN Headquarters in New York, marking the start of the terms of Bahrain, Colombia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Latvia and Liberia as non-permanent members of the Security Council. The event was attended by Abukar Dahir Osman (center), Somalia's envoy to the UN and the Council's president for January, who delivered remarks welcoming the new members. Photo: VCG

Venezuela has demanded UN Security Council hold an emergency meeting, the Xinhua News Agency reported on Saturday.

The request follows a series of US military actions in the country and Washington's claims that Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife were captured and flown out of Venezuela.

According to Xinhua, Venezuela's Permanent Mission to the United Nations sent a letter on Saturday to the rotating president of the UN Security Council, Abukar Dahir Osman, Somalia's envoy to the UN, strongly condemning what it described as a brutal, unjustified and unilateral armed aggression launched by the US against Venezuela. The letter put forward four demands.

The four demands include convening an urgent Security Council meeting to discuss the US acts of aggression; strongly condemning the US armed aggression against the Venezuelan people and government; demanding that US forces immediately cease armed attacks against Venezuela; and taking necessary measures to hold the US government accountable for its acts of aggression, the letter said, Xinhua reported.

According to Xinhua, the letter stated that in the early hours of Saturday, US forces bombed civilian and military targets in Venezuela's capital Caracas as well as in Miranda, Aragua and La Guaira states. It said US special forces carried out attacks at multiple locations across Venezuela using helicopters and aircraft, 

US President Donald Trump and Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro Photo: VCG

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, have been indicted in the Southern District of New York, US Attorney General Pam Bondi claimed in a X post on Saturday.

Maduro has been charged with Narco-Terrorism Conspiracy, Cocaine Importation Conspiracy, Possession of Machineguns and Destructive Devices, and Conspiracy to Possess Machineguns and Destructive Devices against the US, the US Attorney General asserted.

Maduro has been captured and flown out of Venezuela after the US carried out a large-scale strike on the capital city of Caracas, US President Donald Trump announced earlier on Saturday.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio claimed in a call with a US Republican senator that Maduro will stand trial in the US and that he anticipates no further action, CNN reported. 

European Council President Antonio Costa said on Saturday the European Union (EU) was following the situation in Venezuela "with great concern" and urged de-escalation.

"The European Union calls for de-escalation and a resolution in full respect of international law and the principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations," he wrote on X.

He said the bloc would continue to support a peaceful, democratic and inclusive solution in Venezuela, and backed efforts by EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, working with member states, to ensure the safety of European citizens in the country.

Earlier on Saturday, Kallas said the EU was closely monitoring developments and called for restraint, stressing that the principles of international law and the United Nations Charter must be respected.

Kallas said she had spoken with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the EU ambassador in Caracas, adding that the safety of EU citizens in Venezuela was the bloc's top priority.

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The Xinhua News Agency reporters learned from several Chinese companies in Venezuela on Saturday that there have been no casualties among Chinese employees in Venezuela following the US bombing of the country, the agency reported on Saturday night.

Global Times

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Multiple countries have reacted to the ongoing situation in Venezuela as US President Donald Trump ordered strikes on sites inside Venezuela and claimed Saturday in a Truth Social post that Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife were captured and flown out of Venezuela, according to multiple media reports. 

Senator Mike Lee of Utah said on social media that Secretary of State Marco Rubio told him in a phone call that Nicolás Maduro was "arrested by US personnel to stand trial on criminal charges in the United States," according to The New York Times.

Lee said Rubio does not anticipate further action in Venezuela now that Maduro was in custody, according to the report by The New York Times.

According to the Xinhua News Agency, Venezuela's vice president says government does not know whereabouts of Maduro and his wife.

Multiple countries and regions are reacting to the incident.

US President Donald Trump said on Saturday that the United States has struck Venezuela and captured its President Nicolas Maduro, who was flown out of the country along with his wife.

"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 in a Truth Social post, adding that the operation "was done in conjunction with US Law Enforcement."

He also announced a news conference scheduled for 11 a.m. local time (1600 GMT) on Saturday at Mar-a-Lago, Florida.

Low-flying aircraft were spotted, and clouds of smoke were seen following loud explosion sounds at around 2:00 a.m. (0600 GMT) Saturday in Caracas, sending people rushing into the streets and causing brief power outages in parts of the capital, including at a military base.

Shortly after the strike started, the Venezuelan government denounced the "military aggression" by the United States, adding that the strike targeted civilian and military sites in at least four states of the country.

Iran's Foreign Ministry on Saturday strongly condemned the US military attack on Venezuela, calling it a "flagrant violation" of the country's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

In a statement, the ministry described the attack as an "act of aggression" and a clear breach of the fundamental principles of the United Nations Charter and international law prohibiting the use of force against sovereign states.

Earlier on Saturday, the United States launched a large-scale strike on Venezuela, during which Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife were "captured and flown out of Venezuela," according to a post by US President Donald Trump on his Truth Social account.

Iran reaffirmed Venezuela's right to defend its national sovereignty, territorial integrity and right to self-determination, and urged the international community to fulfill its legal and moral responsibility by immediately halting what it described as a US "invasion" of the country.

The remarks come amid rising tensions between Iran and the United States. On Friday, Tehran said it would "forcefully reject" any interference in its internal affairs after Trump warned that Washington would act if Iran "kills peaceful protesters."

US senator says Rubio told him "no further action" now that Maduro is in US custody: media

The Russian Foreign Ministry said Saturday that the United States committed "an act of armed aggression" against Venezuela, which causes deep concern and condemnation.

Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel on Saturday condemned what he described as the "criminal US attack" against Venezuela, demanding an urgent response from the international community.

In a social media post, the president said that the region of peace (Latin America) is being brutally assaulted, and "this is state terrorism against the brave Venezuelan people and against Our America."

Photo: CFP

US President Donald Trump said Saturday in a Truth Social post that Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife were captured and flown out of Venezuela, the Xinhua News Agency reported.

In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump wrote that "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." He said the operation was conducted "in conjunction with US Law Enforcement," adding that further details would follow. Trump also announced that a news conference would be held at 11 am at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida.

According to CBS News, the Venezuelan President was captured early Saturday morning by members of the US Army's elite Delta Force, citing US officials. The report said Delta Force, the US military's top special mission unit, was responsible for the operation. CBS also noted that the unit previously carried out the 2019 mission that killed former Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.

Venezuela's vice president said the Venezuelan government does not know whereabouts of Maduro and his wife, the Xinhua reported, citing the state TV.

As of press time, the Global Times has not seen official response from the Venezuelan government on Trump's claims.

Trump says US successfully carried out large-scale strikes against Venezuela -- media

Trump says Maduro captured: media

Venezuela on Saturday denounced a "military aggression" by the United States, after large explosions were heard and aircraft were seen over the capital Caracas earlier in the day.

The Venezuelan government said that the military strike targeted civilian and military sites in at least four states of the country, including Caracas, as well as the states of Miranda, Aragua and La Guaira, adding that the U.S. action blatantly violated the UN Charter.

Low-flying aircraft were spotted, and clouds of smoke were seen following loud explosion sounds at around 2:00 a.m. (0600 GMT) Saturday in Caracas.

Reports said brief power outages occurred in some areas, including a military base in Caracas.

In the statement, the Venezuelan government said that President Nicolas Maduro had "ordered all national defense plans to be implemented" and declared "a state of external disturbance."

Venezuelan President Maduro has declared national emergency -- media

Trump ordered strikes on number of targets, including military ones, in Venezuela -- media

Low-flying aircraft were spotted, and clouds of smoke were seen following loud explosion sounds early Saturday in Caracas, the capital of Venezuela.

Photos and videos circulating on social media showed smoke rising from multiple locations in the capital, with residents seen fleeing in the streets. The authenticity of this information could not be immediately verified.

Reports said brief power outages occurred in some areas, including a military base in Caracas.

Two loud noises heard in Caracas, capital of Venezuela