In a stunning escalation of tensions, President Donald Trump announced on January 3, 2026, that U.S. forces conducted a large-scale military strike on Venezuela, capturing President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. The couple was flown out of the country to face U.S. charges, including narco-terrorism and drug trafficking.
TheLiberal.ie won’t quit
Please support us with a small donation on PayPal!
The operation followed months of intensifying pressure from the Trump administration, which accused Maduro of leading the “Cartel de los Soles” and flooding the U.S. with drugs. Explosions rocked Caracas, targeting military sites like Fuerte Tiuna, amid reports of low-flying aircraft.
Maduro, who claimed victory in the disputed 2024 election and was sworn in for a third term in 2025, had recently offered talks on drug cooperation, rejecting U.S. accusations as fabricated. Venezuelan officials declared a state of emergency and demanded proof of life.
The move, hailed by some as ending a dictatorship but condemned internationally as aggression, marks a bold shift in U.S. policy toward Venezuela’s oil-rich regime.
Tell us your thoughts in the Facebook post and share this with your friends.
