Venezuela-US Tensions LIVE UPDATES: Venezuela President Nicolas Maduro Lands in New York After US ‘Large Scale’ Strike

According to the media reports, the helicopter carrying Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro touched down at the Westside Heliport in Manhattan, after which Maduro is set to be transported by road to the Drug Enforcement Administration’s office in the city.

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva said the US actions had “crossed an unacceptable line” and described them as “a most serious affront to Venezuela’s sovereignty.”

He urged the international community to issue a strong response to what he called a serious

According to US Media reports, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has arrived in New York and is set to be transported by helicopter to the Westside Heliport in Manhattan, after which he will be taken by road to the US Drug Enforcement Administration headquarters for formal booking procedures.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro’s supporters gather and embrace in downtown Caracas on Saturday following President Trump’s large-scale strike.

Venezuelans celebrate the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.

The plane carrying Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores has landed at New York’s Airport.

U.S.-backed opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, who won the Nobel Peace Prize last year, posted on social media that “the hour of freedom has arrived.” 

The United Nations Security Council has announced that it will convene an emergency session on Monday to discuss the US operation in Venezuela. 

While the list of participants has not yet been finalised, the meeting could be attended by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. 

The emergency meeting was requested by Colombia, with backing from Russia and China, both permanent members of the Security Council. 

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised the bold move of US President Donald Trump. 

Venezuela Vice President Delcy Rodriguez addressed the nation on state television, asserting that Nicolas Maduro remains Venezuela’s sole president. 

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said in a social media post that he had been briefed on the capture of Nicolas Maduro and his wife, as well as plans to hold them in federal custody in New York City. 

US service members involved in the Venezuela operation sustained non-life-threatening gunshot injuries and other wounds, according to two US officials cited by CBS News. 

The officials said there were no American fatalities, and all injured personnel are in stable condition, though the exact number of those hurt has not been disclosed. 

US President Donald Trump said it would be “very tough” for opposition leader María Corina Machado to lead Venezuela. While describing her as a “very nice woman,” he added that she lacks sufficient support and respect within the country to assume the leadership role.

General Caine said, “they arrived at Maduro’s compound at 01:01 ET and isolated the area. On arrival there, the helicopters “came under fire”, and they responded with “overwhelming force.” 

Maduro and his wife then “gave up” and were taken into custody by the Department of Justice, says Caine, and at 03:29 ET they boarded the USS Iwo Jima.

In view of recent developments in Venezuela, Indian nationals are strongly advised to avoid all non-essential travel to Venezuela.

All Indians who are in Venezuela for any reason are advised to exercise extreme caution, restrict their movements, and remain in contact with Embassy of India in Caracas through their email id: cons.caracas@mea.gov.in or the emergency phone number +58-412-9584288 (also for WhatsApp calls)

US President Donald Trump said the United States was fully prepared to launch a second, significantly larger assault if the situation demanded it. 

He noted that US forces had anticipated the need for a follow-up strike and were ready to execute “second wave” but added that current development suggests it may no longer be required.”

US President Donald Trump says at a press conference, “We’re going to run the country until such time as we can do a safe, proper, and judicious transition. So we don’t want to be involved with  having somebody else get in, and  we have the same situation that we had for the last long period of years…We want peace, liberty, and justice for the great people of Venezuela…”

US President Donald Trump on Saturday shared the first image of Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro following his capture by US armed forces during a midnight operation. Now-deposed Venezuelan President can be seen handcuffed, blindfolded and wearing ear defenders. 

Venezuelan opposition leader and 2025 Nobel Peace Prize winner María Corina Machado said the United States had “fulfilled its promise” following President Donald Trump’s announcement that Nicolás Maduro was captured amid military action in Caracas.

She said Maduro would now face “international justice for the heinous crimes committed against Venezuelans.”

US President Donald Trump said the operation to capture Nicolás Maduro was delayed by four days to wait for better weather, adding that he watched the mission unfold live. Quoted by Reuters, Trump said he is now deciding what comes next for Venezuela’s leadership in Caracas.

Donald Trump said the United States would become “very strongly involved” in Venezuela’s oil industry now that Nicolás Maduro is no longer in control, claiming US energy giants are poised to play a major role.

With Venezuela holding the world’s largest proven oil reserves, the move could be seismic for global energy markets, even as Vice President JD Vance said on X that the country’s “stolen oil must be returned to the United States.”

US President Donald Trump said he monitored the mission that captured Nicolás Maduro and his wife in real time from Mar-a-Lago. He praised the professionalism of US forces and advanced equipment, highlighting that the operation was completed without any US casualties.

Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez is reportedly in Russia after US forces captured President Nicolás Maduro, according to multiple sources.

Meanwhile, her brother Jorge Rodríguez remains in Caracas, and Delcy has called on state television for proof of life of Maduro and his wife Cilia, as Jorge has not made a public appearance since the attack.

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores have been indicted in New York for narco-terrorism, cocaine trafficking, and illegal arms possession. They will face US courts following a high-profile military operation praised by the DOJ.

US Attorney General Pam Bondi said Nicolás Maduro will soon face the “full wrath of American justice” after his arrest in Venezuela.

She added that the Venezuelan leader will be tried on American soil in US courts, signaling a major legal showdown ahead.

US President Donald Trump reportedly authorised the capture of Nicolás Maduro days before the operation, which was carried out by the US Army’s Delta Force, CNN reported citing a source.

The CIA had been tracking Maduro’s movements under earlier covert approvals, and a GOP senator quoting Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the Venezuelan leader was arrested to face trial in the United States, though his exact location remains unclear.

Venezuela’s Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello condemned the US airstrikes as a “criminal and terrorist attack” targeting civilians and critical infrastructure, urging citizens to remain calm and trust the government.

Speaking from Caracas, he said security forces were on high alert and ready to respond to any threat, warning that this was not the first battle faced by the Venezuelan people.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said she is closely monitoring the situation in Venezuela, particularly to gather information on Italian citizens living there.

She added that she remains in constant contact with Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, noting that around 160,000 Italians mostly dual citizens reside in the country.

Russia expressed strong concern over the US military action in Venezuela, labeling it an “act of armed aggression” and condemning the operation as deeply troubling.

The Russian Foreign Ministry added that “ideological hostility has triumphed over businesslike pragmatism,” signaling sharp criticism of Washington’s approach.

The US carried out a “large-scale strike” in Venezuela early Saturday, capturing President Nicolás Maduro after months of heightened pressure. Countries including Colombia, Russia, and Iran have already responded, reflecting a mix of support, condemnation, and concern over the unprecedented operation.

Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello called on Venezuelans to remain calm and trust the country’s leadership, warning against despair and the influence of what he described as “enemy invaders.”

He echoed Vice President Delcy Rodríguez in claiming that the US strike caused civilian casualties, emphasizing national unity and resilience in the face of the attack.

Senator Mike Lee announced that Nicolás Maduro has been arrested by US personnel and will stand trial on criminal charges in the United States, following a call with Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

Lee noted that Rubio expects no further action in Venezuela, while also questioning the constitutional basis for the operation in the absence of a formal declaration of war.

US President Donald Trump told the New York Times that the strikes on Venezuela, which led to Nicolás Maduro’s capture, were the result of “a lot of good planning.” He described the operation as “brilliant,” highlighting it as a major success of his administration’s strategy in the region.

Venezuela-US Tensions LIVE UPDATES: Former Indian Ambassador to Venezuela R Viswanathan said the US attack on Caracas was “not a surprise,” noting that similar threats had been made earlier. He recalled that during Donald Trump’s first term, warnings were also issued against Venezuela. “This time he has sent warships and authorised the CIA,” Viswanathan told ANI.

Downplaying the impact on India, the former diplomat said the developments would not significantly affect New Delhi. “India is not dependent on Venezuelan oil, trade is minimal, and only limited ONGC investments exist. So this will not impact India in a big way,” he said.

Venezuela-US Tensions LIVE UPDATES: US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau said Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, who was captured by US special forces early Saturday, will “finally face justice for his crimes.”

Earlier, US President Donald Trump said Maduro had been taken out of the country following US airstrikes in Caracas.

(Via Reuters Inputs)

Venezuela-US Tensions LIVE UPDATES: The Venezuelan government does not know the whereabouts of President Nicolas Maduro or his wife Cilia Flores, Vice President Delcy Rodriguez said on Saturday morning in an audio played on state television.

“We demand immediate proof of life of President Nicolas Maduro and the first combatant Cilia Flores,” Rodriguez said.

(Via Reuters Inputs)

Venezuela-US Tensions LIVE UPDATES: Colombian President Gustavo Petro has released a list of sites he said were targeted by the US Air Force in airstrikes on Venezuela’s capital, Caracas. The list includes key military and government facilities, as well as the mausoleum of former president Hugo Chávez.

According to the list, the targets include Fuerte Tiuna, Caracas’ main military base; La Carlota, the city’s primary airbase; El Volcán radar base; La Guaira Port, Venezuela’s main port; and Iguerote Airport, an airbase in Miranda state.

Venezuela-US Tensions LIVE UPDATES: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has barred US commercial flights from Venezuelan airspace, citing “ongoing military activity” following US airstrikes in Caracas.

Venezuela-US Tensions LIVE UPDATES: Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro was captured during an operation carried out by the US Army’s elite Delta Force, as per the reports, citing officials.

Venezuela-US Tensions LIVE UPDATES: Venezuela’s defence ministry accused the United States of bombing residential areas on Saturday, shortly after US President Donald Trump claimed that Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife had been “captured.”

Venezuela-US Tensions LIVE UPDATES: Military bases and key areas remain on edge. With explosions, black smoke, and power outages all in play, citizens are glued to updates. Is this chaos a one-off, or the opening act of a larger confrontation? Only time will tell.

Authorities continue to monitor the situation closely, urging people to stay safe and follow official guidance.

Venezuela-US Tensions LIVE UPDATES: For months now, there has been a slow brewing of tensions between the U.S. and Venezuela. At the same time, President Trump has been going public with his anticipation of land operations, and, at the same time, he has been pushing President Maduro to resign. 

President Trump has even called it “smart” for Maduro to get out of here. There has been no public playbook or official plan made available, leaving both Venezuela and the world in the dark about what the United States might do next. Caracas is still very much on edge, and the citizens are watching the situation develop closely and, at the same time, are mindful that any escalation might lead to consequences that are very wide-ranging.

The uncertainty is such that it keeps diplomats, markets, and even ordinary Venezuelans in a state of similar apprehension, as the world is waiting to see in which direction the confrontation will go.