Venezuela awoke Saturday to an uneasy blend of reassurance, jubilation, and dread after U.S. forces took President Nicolás Maduro into custody in the aftermath of a night marked by blasts and precision assaults throughout the Caracas Valley.
As residents cautiously returned to the streets, reactions split sharply. Some Venezuelans expressed hope that Maduro’s removal could open a path toward change after years of repression and crisis, while others condemned the operation and rallied to demand his release, calling the arrest an abduction and denouncing a breach of national sovereignty.
Despite the pockets of celebration, uncertainty dominated many conversations. Several people said they feared retaliation and instability in the days ahead, pointing to the continued presence of pro-government armed groups known as “colectivos,” whom residents reported seeing moving through neighborhoods on motorcycles with weapons. The atmosphere has been further shaped by a recently approved law by the government-controlled National Assembly that labels support for U.S. naval blockades as “treason,” heightening the perceived risks of speaking out.
U.S. officials described the raid as the culmination of months of intelligence-gathering and rehearsals. A small team tracked Maduro’s routines and locations, and elite units trained using a full-scale replica of a Caracas safe house to rehearse entry routes. The plan—dubbed “Operation Absolute Resolve”—was tightly held and, according to the U.S. account, was not shared in advance with Congress.
Late Friday night U.S. time, and only moments before midnight in Caracas, authorization was granted to initiate the mission, an approval intended to heighten surprise and exploit the cover of night. Senior military officials reported that the operation, which blended actions by air, land, and sea, unfolded over a little more than two hours.
Maduro and his wife were then transported to New York to face charges related to drug trafficking and weapons—allegations he has previously rejected. From Washington, President Donald Trump said the United States would assume “temporary” control to oversee a transition and manage Venezuela’s oil resources until a permanent replacement is established—an announcement that intensified political tension inside Venezuela and alarmed governments across the region.
International reactions were swift. Brazil’s leadership warned the violent capture set a “dangerous precedent” for the international community, and calls grew for urgent discussions in multilateral forums.
Outside Venezuela, Venezuelans abroad celebrated in cities where they have resettled after years of mass migration. Still, even among those who welcomed Maduro’s arrest, a sober message prevailed: the operation may mark a turning point, but it does not guarantee immediate stability. The central question—inside Venezuela and across its diaspora—remains what happens next, and who will hold real power on the ground.
