Early Saturday, U.S. military helicopters targeted key locations in Caracas, Venezuela, including areas near the Fuerte Tiuna army base, triggering reports of explosions and localized power outages.
Donald J. Trump stated on social media that a “large-scale strike” had been carried out and claimed Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife were captured and flown out of the country in an operation involving U.S. law enforcement. Trump said additional details would be provided at a Mar-a-Lago news conference at 11 a.m. ET.
Venezuelan authorities described the strikes as an act of aggression against civilian areas. Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López said the “invading” U.S. forces attacked residential zones with missiles and rockets. Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro and Cuba’s President Miguel Díaz-Canel, among others, called for international intervention and restraint. Details on casualties or the full scale of the operation remain limited.
Despite the escalation, cryptocurrency markets remained resilient. Bitcoin hovered around $89,000, and major altcoins including Ethereum, Ripple’s XRP, and Solana recorded gains. Polymarket prediction markets reflected heightened uncertainty, with fluctuating odds on U.S. military involvement and the timing of potential leadership changes in Venezuela.
