President Trump stated Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife had been “captured and flown in another country” early Saturday, confirming what he described as a large-scale U.S. strike that prompted swift condemnation and concern worldwide.
A CIA supply inside Venezuela’s authorities helped the U.S. monitor Maduro’s location, CBS Information discovered. Following experiences of explosions and low-flying aircraft within the nation’s capital, Maduro was finally captured at Fuerte Tiuna, Venezuela’s largest navy complicated situated in Caracas, Venezuelan ruling celebration chief Nahum Fernández instructed The Related Press.
Satellite tv for pc imagery under exhibits earlier than and after the U.S. strikes at Fuerte Tiuna.
Fuerte Tiuna earlier than U.S. strikes
Satellite tv for pc pictures from Vantor on Dec. 22 exhibits an summary of Fuerte Tiuna navy complicated displaying buildings and gear previous to strike harm.
Maxar by way of Getty
Maxar by way of Getty 
Maxar by way of Getty 
Fuerte Tiuna after U.S. strikes
Satellite tv for pc pictures from Vantor exhibits harm to autos and gear at Fuerte Tiuna navy base in Caracas after strikes on Jan. 3.
Maxar by way of Getty 
Maxar by way of Getty 
Maxar by way of Getty 
U.S. officers instructed CBS Information that the operation to seize Maduro was carried out by the Military’s Delta Power, an elite particular operations unit.
The helicopters that descended on Maduro’s compound got here underneath hearth, stated Gen. Dan Caine, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Workers, however U.S. forces and the FBI finally entered the compound. Maduro and his spouse “gave up” and had been taken into custody, Caine stated.
Talking at a press convention, Mr. Trump stated the US would temporarily oversee Venezuela throughout a transition interval and would work to revive oil manufacturing. He additionally stated that Maduro tried to flee throughout his seize.
“He was making an attempt to get right into a protected place,” Mr. Trump instructed reporters. “The protected place is all metal, and he wasn’t in a position to make it to the door as a result of our guys had been so quick.”
Along with the primary navy base that was hit, David Smolansky, a spokesman for Venezuelan opposition chief Maria Corina Machado, instructed CBS Information the next areas had been additionally hit by U.S. strikes: La Carlota, the primary airbase in Caracas; El Volcán, sign antenna; and La Guaira Port, a seaport on the Caribbean coast.
Maduro is anticipated to face federal charges in the US associated to drug trafficking and alleged ties to gangs designated as terrorist organizations — claims he has denied. Lawyer Common Pam Bondi on Saturday introduced a superseding indictment much like one filed towards Maduro in 2020.
