Venezuela demands ‘proof of life’ after US claims maduro’s capture
Article By: Old Harbour News
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- Jan 03, 2026 08:46 AM | International
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One of several images purported to be coming out of Venezuela shows plumes of smoke after the US Military strikes targets in Caracas.
In a message on his Truth Social platform, Trump declared that the U.S. had “successfully carried out a large-scale strike against Venezuela” and that Maduro and Flores were “captured and flown out of the country,” promising further details at a news conference.
The announcement in Caracas, however, came from Executive Vice President Delcy Rodríguez, who stated that the whereabouts of the President and First Lady were currently unknown. The Venezuelan government is demanding that the Trump administration immediately provide verifiable proof of life.
The crisis began in the early hours of Saturday, when powerful explosions rocked Caracas and nearby states. Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López confirmed U.S. bombings against multiple military sites, including Fuerte Tiuna in the capital and the port of La Guaira. He reported that authorities were assessing damages and casualties, accusing U.S. helicopters of firing missiles on residential areas.
In a statement broadcast on state media, the Venezuelan government formally accused the United States of a flagrant military attack on its territory, describing it as a grave violation of the UN Charter and a threat to regional peace. The government announced the full activation of national defense plans, the deployment of the armed forces, and the declaration of a nationwide state of “External Commotion” also known as a state of emergency
Authorities have called for a popular mobilization to defend the homeland and stated they will lodge formal complaints before international bodies, including the United Nations. Minister Padrino López urged the international community to condemn what he termed Washington’s “criminal aggression”.
The developments follow months of escalated regime-change threats from the Trump administration, which had recently vowed to strike land targets in Venezuela. The situation on the ground remains chaotic, with social media footage showing low-flying aircraft and active air defenses over Caracas.
