Trump claims Venezuela president Maduro has been captured and flown out of the country

US president Donald Trump announced that Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro has been captured and flown out of the country, following an early morning strike on the capital of Caracas.

Trump announced that he will hold a press conference at Mar-a-Lago at 11am local time where he will announce the capture of Maduro.

“The United States of America has successfully carried out a large scale strike against Venezuela and its leader, Nicolas Maduro, who has been, along with his wife, captured and flown out of the country. This operation was done in conjunction with US Law Enforcement. Details to follow. There will be a news conference today at 11am at Mar-a-Lago. Thank you for your attention to this matter! President DONALS J. TRUMP.”

The US has attacked Venezuela in the early hours of January 3, flying Chinook helicopters over the capital and hitting military and political targets in the capital of Caracas.

Several hundred US troops were reportedly dropped in to the city but according to reports they have already withdrawn after successfully carrying out what is reported to be a surgical strike.

Maduro called the military and people to the street to defend his regime, but according to bnl IntelliNews reporters on the ground, no one responded. The civilian population remained in their homes and sought shelter from the attack. Videos posted on social media shows explosions across the city as US helicopters flow over the capital. “He has been ignored as he doesn't seem to have the popular support,” a bnl IntelliNews reporter said by phone from the capital. “Everyone is staying at home and simply trying to survive.

The presidential palace was attacked and several hundred US troops were deployed from helicopters. While the situation remains fluid, it appears they carried out a special operation targeting the presidential residence to snatch Maduro.

The head of state security, head of the Presidential Honor Guard is Iván Hernández Dala, also claims that his house was targeted and destroyed. Several military installations were also targeted, including the Fuere Tiuna military base in Caracas.

Selected civilian targets were also attacked. The building that houses the grave of former president Hugo Chavez was hit and destroyed. The civilian aiports, in additional military airbases, were hit and reportedly badly damaged.

However, the strikes appear to have been surgical and civilian objects avoided. So far, there are no reports of any civilian causalities.

According to reports from the ground, the local media, controlled by the state, is not reporting on the attacks and showing propaganda messages and cartoons. However, residents of Caracus are relying on social media to remain informed.

Most of the civilian population are staying at home to avoid the bombing and after the initial intense attacks, the situation has already become calm as the US operations appears to have quickly ended after its primary objective was achieved.

No local media controlled by the state is playing propaganda and cartoons. But the population is keeping in formed and relying on social media

The presidential palace has been targeted, but Maduro is reportedly in a shelter and is safe for now. No reports of him leaving the country yet. According to some reports Russia’s PCM have been flown into Caracas in the last two months to provide security for Maduro.

Economic pressure

Latin America observers expect the strikes to be limited and they are not expecting a costly full scale invasion of Venezuela by the US – Trump is keen to avoid another “forever war” that any land campaign would lead to.

Military analysts believe the January 3 attacks is likely to be the first of a series of targeted attacks that will hit key economic targets in order to undermine the Venezuela’s already rocky economy to further increase the pressure on Maduro’s regime and destabilise his government to pave the way for regime change.

Reports emerging on the morning of the attack, report that some of Venezuela’s ports have been hit and damaged that will hurt exports. The US has already imposed a naval blockade of the country as well as imposing a no-fly zone over its airspace and the attack will only tighten those restrictions shutting down Venezuelan trade.

 

International response

The attack is already playing very badly in the Global South. Commentators from Venezuela and India that spoke with bnl IntelliNews are asking: “What is the difference between Trump and [president Vladimir] Putin and his invasion of Ukraine? This is an unjustified attack on a sovereign country.”

Neither China or Russia are expected come to Venezuela’s aid, although both will protest. Maduro can also expect little support from his peers in Latin America. Unlike Chavez, who was supported by many leaders in 2002, Maduro is relatively isolated amongst his peers in South America.

Brazil, the key power in the region, is likely to protest against the US attacks, but will not go beyond that. Maduro has alienated Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva during his flawed election as president and Maduro remains relatively isolated in South America amongst the other leaders.

Russia has supported Venezuela on principle as part of its confrontation with the US, and reportedly being flying giant Anatonov  cargo planes into Venezuela in recent months supplying the country with anti-ship and anti-aircraft missiles to boost Venezuela’s defences in the face of the US naval build up. However, the Kremlin is unlikely to go beyond that as its own resources are already stretched by the war in Ukraine.