U.S. Forces Capture Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in Caracas, Bring Him to New York Federal Court

U.S. special-operations forces carried out a predawn raid in Caracas that captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.

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They were transferred to New York to face federal charges and both appeared in Manhattan federal court where they pleaded not guilty.

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Reports described the operation variously as a military assault and a law-enforcement arrest.

U.S. officials and the Trump administration framed it as an arrest tied to long-standing drug and narco-terrorism charges.

Maduro and Venezuelan officials called the action a "kidnapping" and denounced it as unlawful.

President Trump publicly praised the mission and said the U.S. would "run" Venezuela for an unspecified period while interim authorities were installed in Caracas.

The raid generated conflicting casualty reports and immediate humanitarian concerns.

Venezuelan officials reported dozens of security personnel and civilians killed.

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Cuba confirmed the deaths of its advisory personnel in Venezuela.

Venezuelan and Cuban figures differ, and alternative reports put the death toll even higher.

U.S. officials acknowledged wounded service members, with several Americans reported injured; some were hospitalized and some have since returned to duty.

The legal and diplomatic ramifications were immediately contested.

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U.S. officials argue Maduro’s head-of-state immunity can be set aside because Washington does not recognize him as Venezuela’s legitimate leader.

Legal experts note immunity claims are imperfect, and Maduro’s defenders may contend the action was a military seizure rather than a law-enforcement arrest.

International bodies and many governments sharply criticized the operation as violating Venezuelan sovereignty and U.N. norms.

The U.N. secretary-general warned of risks to regional stability, and the Security Council met to consider responses.

The operation triggered intense domestic political debate in the United States over oversight, motives and post-raid policy.

President Trump and his advisers signaled a plan to control Venezuelan oil sales and to use proceeds and leverage to influence Caracas' transition.

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Many Democrats and some Republicans criticized the narrow congressional notification and demanded more details, legal authorization and a clear end state.

A Senate vote on requiring congressional approval for further action was reportedly imminent.

Regionally, the capture deepened diplomatic fractures and alarm across Latin America and beyond.

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Havana and Moscow condemned the action after Cuba confirmed the deaths of its personnel.

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Some European governments criticized the method while questioning Maduro's legitimacy.

The U.N. urged restraint to prevent escalation.

Colombia registered diplomatic complaints after tense communications with Washington.

Smaller European actors raised concerns about sovereignty after high-profile U.S. comments about Greenland and possible further action in the region.