Sat Jan 03 18:18:30 UTC 2026: Here’s a summary of the text and a rewritten version as a news article:

Summary:

In a dramatic military operation, US forces captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. President Trump announced the capture, posting a photo on Truth Social of Maduro aboard a US warship. Trump declared the US will oversee Venezuela’s transition and allow US oil companies to exploit its reserves. The operation, involving over 150 aircraft, was meticulously planned and executed with no US lives lost (though some injuries were reported). Maduro and his wife face drug and weapons charges in New York. The move was condemned by countries like Russia and Iran, as well as raising concerns from US allies. Opposition leader Maria Corina Machado called for a new president to assume power. This action marks a significant and controversial display of US military power under Trump.

News Article:

US Forces Capture Venezuelan President Maduro in Audacious Raid

Mar-a-Lago, FL – In a stunning display of military power, the United States captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in a nighttime raid in Caracas, officials confirmed on Saturday. President Donald Trump announced the successful operation with a post on Truth Social featuring a photo of a blindfolded and handcuffed Maduro aboard the USS Iwo Jima.

“Nicolas Maduro on board the USS Iwo Jima,” Trump wrote, alongside the photo.

At a subsequent press conference, Trump declared the US will oversee a “safe transition of power” in Venezuela, signaling a potential long-term US presence in the South American nation. He further stated he intends to allow American oil companies to tap into Venezuela’s vast crude reserves, ending years of US oil sanctions.

According to General Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the operation, which involved over 150 US aircraft, was meticulously planned and executed flawlessly. “Maduro and his wife surrendered and were taken into custody with no loss of US life,” Caine stated.

Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, are expected to face drug and weapons charges in New York. President Trump reportedly watched the Delta Force raid unfold in real-time from his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida.

The Venezuelan government has condemned the operation as an act of “extremely serious military aggression,” and declared a state of emergency. International reaction has been swift and divided. Russia and Iran, long-time allies of Maduro, have strongly condemned the US action. Surprisingly, some of Washington’s closest allies, including France and the EU, have also voiced concerns.

Meanwhile, US-backed Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, celebrated the capture as “the hour of freedom,” and called for the opposition’s candidate in the 2024 election, Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia, to immediately assume the presidency.

This bold move marks a significant escalation in President Trump’s foreign policy. Just months after directing strikes on Iranian nuclear sites, this operation underscores his willingness to use military force to assert US dominance, particularly in the Western Hemisphere.

The capture of Maduro and the US plans for Venezuela are certain to fuel further geopolitical tensions and debate the limits of US interventionism.

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