Trump Claims US Strike in Venezuela, Maduro Captured
US President Says Operation Involved Law Enforcement; Promises Details at Press Conference
CARACAS: US President Donald J. Trump, in a post on social media, claimed that the United States had carried out a large-scale strike against Venezuela and that President Nicolas Maduro, along with his wife, had been captured and flown out of the country.
According to the post, the operation was conducted in coordination with US law enforcement agencies. Trump said further details would be shared at a news conference scheduled for 11 a.m. at Mar-a-Lago.
State Department tells Americans in Venezuela to shelter in place
The State Department warned U.S. citizens in Venezuela to shelter in place early Saturday morning.
In a notice posted on its website, the department said the U.S. Embassy in Bogota, Colombia, was "aware of reports of explosions in and around Caracas, Venezuela."
The U.S. has warned its citizens against traveling to Venezuela for months, citing the risk of "wrongful detention, torture in detention, terrorism, kidnapping, arbitrary enforcement of local laws, crime, civil unrest, and poor health infrastructure."
