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.

Earlier, multiple explosions were reported in Venezuela's capital Caracas in the early hours of Saturday, according to Reuters witnesses. Columns of black smoke were seen rising over parts of the city, while images and videos circulating on social media showed aircraft in the skies over the capital.

Global Times