Venezuela woke on Saturday to a tense mix of relief, celebration, and fear after U.S. forces captured President Nicolás Maduro following a night of explosions and targeted strikes across the Caracas Valley.
As residents slowly made their way back outside, reactions diverged dramatically, with some Venezuelans voicing cautious optimism that Maduro’s ouster might create a chance for long‑awaited change after years of turmoil and repression, while others denounced the operation, gathered to demand his freedom, branded the detention as a kidnapping, and accused the authorities of violating 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 portrayed the raid as the endpoint of months spent gathering intelligence and running practice drills, during which a small team monitored Maduro’s habits and movements while elite units prepared on a full-scale replica of a Caracas safe house to refine their entry paths; the operation, known as “Operation Absolute Resolve,” remained closely guarded and, per the U.S. narrative, was not disclosed to Congress beforehand.
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.
Global responses emerged quickly, as Brazil’s leadership cautioned that the forceful takeover posed a “dangerous precedent” for the international community, prompting growing demands for rapid deliberations within multilateral forums.
Venezuelans living outside Venezuela marked the moment across the cities where they have resettled after years of large‑scale migration, yet even among those who approved of Maduro’s arrest, a measured tone dominated: the action may signal a pivotal shift, but it offers no assurance of swift stability. The key question—both within Venezuela and throughout its diaspora—continues to be what comes next and who will ultimately wield real authority on the ground.