The world woke to stunning news as reports claimed U.S. special forces carried out a covert overnight operation in Caracas, capturing Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and his wife. Former President Donald Trump quickly praised the mission as “brilliant,” while lawmakers learned of it only after the fact.

According to accounts shared by Trump, the raid unfolded in minutes. Helicopters arrived before dawn, and explosive breaches were used to overwhelm security at Maduro’s compound. The speed of the assault reportedly prevented him from reaching a reinforced safe room.

Low-flying aircraft and multiple explosions echoed across the capital, signaling the sudden collapse of a regime long thought entrenched. Maduro and his wife were taken alive and flown out of the country, marking a dramatic end to years of diplomatic stalemate.

Within hours, the U.S. Justice Department announced sealed indictments. Attorney General Pam Bondi said the charges included narco-terrorism and illegal weapons activity, pledging that both detainees would face trial in the United States.

Trump framed the operation as decisive and bloodless, crediting elite troops and intelligence planning. He described the capture as a turning point not only for Venezuela, but for U.S. resolve against criminalized regimes.

In Washington, however, controversy followed quickly. Members of Congress questioned why they were not briefed in advance and what legal authority justified the operation. Concerns about executive power and precedent spread across party lines.

International reactions were mixed. Some governments expressed relief at Maduro’s removal, while others warned about sovereignty, regional instability, and the risks of unilateral action.

For now, the image dominating global attention is simple and unsettling: a long-ruling strongman gone overnight, a nation left in uncertainty, and a dramatic operation whose consequences are only beginning to unfold.