U.S. Forces Capture Maduro; Venezuelans Celebrate Worldwide

U.S. forces launched a "large-scale strike" on Venezuela resulting in the capture of President Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores during overnight operations.

“Protesters and revelers alike took to the streets on Saturday in reaction to the and the capture of”

CBS News

Explosions were heard in Caracas and other cities near airports and military bases during the military action.

CBS News

Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez condemned the capture, declaring Maduro as Venezuela's "only president" and demanding their release.

The Trump administration's intervention represented a significant escalation in U.S.-Venezuela relations.

Venezuelans around the world erupted in widespread celebration following the news of Maduro's capture.

Spontaneous demonstrations occurred in multiple countries including Chile's capital Santiago, where crowds expressed joy at the downfall of "the dictatorship."

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Migrants shared personal stories of liberation after years of struggle under Maduro's regime.

One Chile-based Venezuelan declared "We are free. We are all happy that the dictatorship has fallen and that we have a free country."

Celebrations extended beyond Chile to Spain, Italy, Greece, Mexico, and outside the White House in Washington D.C.

The capture of Maduro carries profound significance given the extraordinary scale of Venezuelan migration under his administration.

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NBC News

The U.N. International Organization for Migration reports that 7.7 million Venezuelans - 20% of the population - have been displaced since 2014.

This represents one of the largest migration crises in recent history, creating a vast global diaspora.

Approximately 2.8 million Venezuelans are in Colombia, 1.7 million in Peru, with significant communities throughout Latin America and beyond.

The celebrations reflect the deep personal impact Maduro's government had on millions who fled due to economic hardship and political repression.

Regional governments across Latin America have responded with a mixture of celebration and concern to Maduro's capture.

Colombian authorities are particularly vigilant about potential mobilizations among the large Venezuelan migrant population.

NewsNation

Bogotá's Secretary of Government, Gustavo Quintero Ardila, confirmed permanent contact with Venezuelan community organizations.

Colombian teams have been deployed to support both Venezuelan and U.S. diplomatic offices while monitoring for possible mobilizations.

The Colombian official urged "calm and peaceful coexistence" among residents and Venezuelan migrants amid the climate of euphoria and uncertainty.

In Cali, the Venezuelan community has organized a demonstration at Río Boulevard to commemorate Maduro's arrest.

While celebrations dominated in many regions, the reaction to the U.S. military intervention was not uniformly positive across Latin America.

“Across Latin America, Venezuelans living outside of their home country gathered in the streets and squares of their host nations, celebrating the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro by U”

The Atlantic

Clear divisions emerged between those who welcomed Maduro's ousting and those who condemned the action as an "act of war."

The Atlantic

In Argentina, members of left-wing organizations protested outside the U.S. embassy opposing what they view as foreign interference.

This mixed response reflects broader geopolitical tensions surrounding U.S. intervention in Latin America.

Maduro's government maintained support from certain political factions while facing condemnation from others.

The capture operation has ended one political era while creating new diplomatic challenges across the region.