Shocking images have emerged from Venezuela in the wake of a large-scale US military operation that resulted in the capture of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, but also reportedly left at least 40 civilians and military personnel dead.
Scenes of Devastation in Catia La Mar
Striking photographs from the coastal town of Catia La Mar reveal the human cost of the daring raid. A local resident, 48-year-old Jesus Linares, was pictured with his work partner Reggie Carrera inspecting his utterly devastated apartment. The building's outer walls were completely blown out, leaving the interior exposed.
The floor was littered with rubble and debris, while metal railings lay twisted amongst ashes near the entrance. Plaster hung precariously from the ceiling, illustrating the sheer force of the assault that unfolded in the early hours of Saturday morning.
The Operation to Capture Maduro
The raid was a direct ploy to apprehend Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. According to sources, the couple were taken from their home by elite US Delta Force soldiers while they were sleeping. Explosions were seen ripping across the capital, Caracas, during the operation.
US President Donald Trump had earlier announced the military mission, confirming a 'large-scale strike' was carried out in conjunction with US law enforcement. He later described watching the operation with officials at Mar-a-Lago, remarking, 'If you would've seen the speed, the violence... it was an amazing thing.'
Maduro and Flores, who are facing federal drug trafficking charges, were flown to New York and will stand trial there.
Political Fallout and Civilian Casualties
The immediate political consequence saw Venezuela's Supreme Court confirm socialist Vice President Delcy Rodriguez as Maduro's successor. However, Rodriguez, a longtime Maduro loyalist, furiously condemned the capture as 'an atrocity that violates international law' and demanded his immediate release.
She warned during a National Defense Council session, 'We call on the peoples of the great homeland to remain united, because what was done to Venezuela can be done to anyone.' This statement contradicted President Trump's suggestion that Rodriguez was prepared to work with the United States.
Venezuelan Attorney General Tarek Saab insisted that 'innocents' had been 'mortally wounded' by the US strikes. Images from Caracas supported these claims, showing a bus with its windows blown out and burned-out military vehicles at dawn. The reported death toll stands at a minimum of 40 people.
Looking ahead, President Trump offered few details on how the US would manage Venezuela's governance but suggested the country's vast oil reserves could be used to fund its revival under new leadership.
