US President Donald Trump on Saturday announced that Venezuelan President Nicolรกs Maduro, who has been in power since 2013, was captured after a largescale US strike on Venezuela's capital city of Caracas.
Sources told CNN that Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores were dragged from their bedroom by elite US forces during the raid.
"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 wrote on Truth Social. "This operation was done in conjunction with U.S. Law Enforcement. Details to follow. There will be a News Conference today at 11 A.M., at Mar-a-Lago. Thank you for your attention to this matter! President DONALD J. TRUMP."
US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau responded, "A new dawn for Venezuela! ๐ The tyrant is gone. He will now-finally-face justice for his crimes."
Trump later published a photo of Maduro.
Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez, who is now expected to fill Maduro's role, is reportedly in Russia, four sources familiar with her movements told Reuters. The site said that her brother Jorge Rodriguez, who heads Venezuela's national assembly, is in Caracas.
Delcy Rodriguez told state television that the country does not know where Maduro is being held, and demanded that Trump provide proof that he and his wife are still alive.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar praised Trump's actions, saying, "Israel commends the United States’ operation, led by President Trump, which acted as the leader of the free world."
"At this historic moment, Israel stands alongside the freedom-loving Venezuelan people, who have suffered under Maduro’s illegal tyranny.
"Israel welcomes the removal of the dictator who led a network of drugs and terror and hopes for the return of democracy to the country and for friendly relations between the states. The people of Venezuela deserve to exercise their democratic rights. South America deserves a future free from the axis of terror and drugs."
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