Politics USA wants to hold Maduro accountable
Venezuelan head of state Nicolás Maduro, who was captured by US forces, will be held accountable for his "crimes", according to US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau. "The tyrant has fallen," Landau wrote on X. Maduro had already been indicted in the US in 2020 for drug trafficking, among other things. The US government also put a kind of bounty on his head.
03.01.2026, 12:14
SDA
Early Saturday morning, US President Donald Trump confirmed a large-scale attack on Venezuela on his online mouthpiece Truth Social, in which head of state Maduro and his wife had been captured and taken out of the country. He announced a press conference for 11.00 a.m. local time (5.00 p.m. CET). Details are to be announced then.
Venezuela speaks of dead soldiers and civilians
According to the government, both soldiers and civilians were killed in the US attack in Venezuela. "We condemn this attack on our people, which has cost the lives of officials, soldiers, innocent people and civilians," said Venezuela's Vice President Delcy Rodríguez on state television.
According to the Republican Senator from Utah, Mike Lee, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is said to have announced that Maduro will be tried in the USA. According to him, the military strikes were carried out "to protect and defend" those who executed the arrest warrant. Lee, who had initially expressed doubts about the legality of the US action, was satisfied with this. This probably falls under Article Two of the US Constitution, according to which US military personnel may be protected from attacks or imminent attacks, Lee said after a phone call with Rubio. Rubio also said that there would be no further attacks on Venezuela.
Maduro: USA wants to force a change of power
Venezuela's authoritarian head of state Maduro has long accused the USA of wanting to force a change of power in Caracas. Following his re-election in 2024, which was overshadowed by allegations of fraud, the government in Washington no longer recognized the left-wing politician as the legitimate head of state.
The US authorities also believe that Maduro is involved in drug trafficking. The USA had offered a reward of up to 50 million dollars (around 43 million euros) for information leading to his arrest.
Attacks probably targeted military bases and ports
According to reports, the airstrikes were mainly directed against military bases, airfields, communication facilities and ports. Among others, Fuerte Tiuna - the country's most important military base - in Caracas is said to have been attacked. Footage of explosions and columns of smoke in the capital Caracas could be seen in Venezuelan media and social networks.
Several of these are said to have occurred in the La Carlota area, where a Venezuelan air force base is located. A video from the VPItv channel showed several helicopters flying over the city at night. Armored vehicles of the Venezuelan security forces could be seen near the Miraflores presidential palace.
The Venezuelan government condemned the military strikes. They were a violation of the UN Charter, it said in a statement. The USA's aim is to seize Venezuela's natural resources - such as its large oil reserves - and force a change of government. "They will not succeed," the statement said.
CBS: Trump gave his blessing to attacks days ago
According to a media report, Trump had already given the green light for attacks on Venezuela days ago. Military representatives had considered carrying out the attacks at Christmas, the US news channel CBS News reported, citing two people familiar with the matter. However, the plans were then postponed due to the US air strikes in Nigeria against Islamic State (IS) targets.
USA has assembled a massive force off Venezuela
The conflict between the USA and Venezuela has escalated in recent months. Since September, the US military has repeatedly attacked boats allegedly loaded with drugs in the Caribbean and the Pacific. According to the US government, more than 100 people have been killed in the process.
Most recently, US forces attacked an alleged "drug transshipment site" in Venezuela, according to Trump. "There was a big explosion in the port area where the boats are loaded with drugs," he said.
The US armed forces also massively expanded their presence in the Caribbean. Among other things, additional combat aircraft and the world's largest aircraft carrier "USS Gerald R. Ford" - accompanied by other warships and a long-range bomber - were deployed to the region. Officially, the "Southern Spear" operation is directed against drug smuggling.
However, Venezuela is not considered a drug-producing country, but rather a transit country - primarily for the European market. According to experts, the armed forces are oversized for use against drug smugglers.
World's largest oil reserves in Venezuela
Maduro, for his part, accuses the USA of targeting Venezuela's huge oil reserves. With an estimated 303 billion barrels (159 liters each), the South American country has the largest oil reserves in the world. However, due to sanctions, mismanagement and a lack of investment, production is falling far short of its potential.
This is also suggested by several maneuvers in which the USA took control of two oil tankers off the coast of Venezuela. The armed forces at least made an attempt on a third tanker.
