U.S. Delta Force Captures Venezuelan President Maduro During Major Assault on Caracas: Defence Minister Vows Continued Fight

In the early hours of January 3 the United States launched a large scale military assault on Venezuela, striking key military and infrastructure targets across the capital Caracas, including the mausoleum of former president Hugo Chavez. U.S. President Trump subsequently announced that current Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro had been captured by U.S. forces:

“The United States of America has successfully carried out a large scale strike against Venezuela and its leader, President Nicolas Maduro, who has been, along with his wife, captured and flown out of the Country.“

Subsequent reports have indicated that the elite special operations unit Delta Force were responsible for the capture of the president. The seizure of an enemy head of state has a few precedents in modern warfare, with the unprovoked nature of the attack having quickly sparked significant international condemnation.

The U.S. attack was launched just hours after China's Special Envoy for Latin America Qiu Xiaoqi met with President Maduro for over three hours in Caracas, strengthening what Chinese government sources referred to as an "all-weather partnership” which was expected to play a major role in helping Venezuela weather sustained Western economic warfare efforts. The buildings of the Venezuelan Ministry of Defence targeted during the attack, with separate strikes launched against the General Staff building. The Venezuelan Ministry of Foreign Affairs subsequently confirmed that the implementation of the country's national defence plan had been initiated to resist U.S. attacks. Low flights over the capital by American attack helicopters, however, indicated that air defences were not operating effectively. Before his reported capture, President Maduro ordered all national defence plans to be implemented at the appropriate time and circumstances, and declared a State of External Commotion throughout the national territory to mobilise forces against the U.S. attack.

Following multiple unconfirmed reports of the death of Venezuelan Defence Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez, he appeared to condemn the attacks and pledged to continue the war effort. "In the face of this despicable and cowardly attack, which threatens peace and stability in the region, we express our strongest condemnation" he stated in a video message. It remains highly uncertain whether the United States will continue military operations until the Venezuelan state is toppled, or whether the capture of the president and destruction of key and oil infrastructure will be hailed as a sufficient victory while avoiding a more protracted campaign. Should hostilities cease, Vice President Delcy Rodríguez of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela is expected to hold office, potentially paving the way for new elections in which the socialist party is expected to remain in power.