U.S. Military Captures Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in Caracas

U.S. forces conducted a dramatic operation in Caracas that captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and First Lady Cilia Flores and brought them to New York for court proceedings on narcotics and weapons charges, according to multiple reports.

“WASHINGTON --President Donald Trump said Tuesday on his social media site that "Interim Authorities" in Venezuela would be providing 30 million to 50 million barrels of "High Quality" oil to the U”

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The Times of India said Maduro was seized in Caracas in a dramatic U.S. military operation and flown to New York, where he arrived Monday for his first court appearance.

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CNN reported that Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, pleaded not guilty in New York to drug and weapons charges and that Maduro told the judge he had been kidnapped in Caracas.

U.S. officials and the Pentagon acknowledged troop injuries, with Newsweek saying a U.S. operation injured seven U.S. servicemembers and NBC reporting the Pentagon’s tally that at least seven were hurt, five have returned to duty, and two remain recovering.

Claims about casualties and fatalities differ sharply between sources.

Venezuelan and Cuban officials publicly said dozens of security personnel died.

BBC

NBC reported that Venezuela’s military posted an Instagram tribute saying 24 uniformed personnel died in the operation and that Cuba said 32 of its officers died.

WHEC likewise wrote that Venezuelan officials said at least 24 of their security officers died and that Cuba confirmed 32 Cuban military and police officers were killed.

At the same time, U.S. reporting and the Pentagon emphasized limited U.S. casualties and relatively few troop losses given the mission’s difficulty.

They noted U.S. servicemembers were treated for gunshot and shrapnel wounds.

Scripps and NBC described state-organized rallies and military tributes amid claims of fallen security forces.

The capture prompted immediate political and diplomatic consequences and divergent framing about succession.

“Updated on: January 6, 2026 / 10:44 PM EST/ CBS News A Russian submarine and other naval vessels have been deployed to escort a sanctioned tanker that has historically carried Venezuelan oil, as the U”

CBS News

Folha de S.Paulo reported that Vice President Delcy Rodríguez initially reaffirmed support for Maduro.

Hours later she publicly offered to cooperate with Donald Trump's government, and Venezuela's armed forces recognized her as interim president on Sunday.

Times of India noted the U.N. Security Council convened an emergency meeting.

It reported Switzerland announced it would freeze any assets held by Maduro or his associates.

It also said the European Union insisted any Venezuelan political transition must include opposition figures Maria Corina Machado and Edmundo González Urrutia.

CNN added internal U.S. criticism from John Bolton that the administration failed to coordinate with opposition leaders such as Machado.

These reports show divergence in focus, with some outlets emphasizing legal and diplomatic maneuvers and others highlighting contested claims to legitimacy and calls for inclusion of opposition figures.

Energy and economic motives were prominently reported as part of U.S. goals following the capture.

Newsweek reported that Trump announced interim Venezuelan authorities would transfer 30-50 million barrels of sanctioned oil to the United States to be sold at market prices, a move he said would benefit the people of Venezuela and the United States.

CNN

Scripps News calculated the transfer's potential value at about $56 a barrel, saying it could be worth up to $2.8 billion.

Korea JoongAng observed that the White House has pushed oil companies to invest in Venezuela and discussed meetings with the industry.

Folha and WHEC reported that Washington would work with remnants of the Maduro administration only if U.S. goals, particularly opening oil to U.S. investment, were met.

These accounts underscore a pronounced economic and energy emphasis in much of the coverage.

Reactions in the region and within U.S. political circles show sharp divergences.

“Shortly after the capture of Nicolás Maduro on Saturday in Caracas by American forces, his vice president, Delcy Rodríguez, reiterated her support for the chavista, saying he was the only legitimate president of Venezuela”

Folha de S.Paulo

Colombian President Gustavo Petro strongly condemned the U.S. action and criticized President Trump, with Newsweek reporting Petro called Trump 'senile' and rejecting U.S. accusations.

Folha de S.Paulo

CNN noted internal U.S. criticism from figures like John Bolton, who said the administration erred by not coordinating with opposition leaders.

NBC and WHEC described regional diplomatic tension, reporting that Colombia's foreign minister summoned the U.S. charge d'affaires and warned the military would defend Colombia if attacked.

Rep. Gregory Meeks said he lacked clarity about whether U.S. ground troops were involved, underscoring domestic uncertainty about the operation's scope.