In early January 2026, the United States conducted a military operation in Venezuela that resulted in Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores being captured and transported to the U.S., where they appeared in federal court in New York. President Trump announced that Maduro and his wife had been taken into U.S. custody and face charges including drug trafficking and weapons offenses. After the operation, Trump shared a controversial photo of Maduro blindfolded, handcuffed, and on a U.S. Navy ship (the USS Iwo Jima), though that image was later deleted by Trump. 2. Details of the Military Action U.S. forces reportedly launched strikes on multiple Venezuelan military sites, including the largest military complex (Fuerte Tiuna) and major airbases. Special operations troops, including elite units, were involved in the raid that led to Maduro’s capture. The U.S. government claims the operation was aimed at dismantling what it alleges is Maduro’s involvement in drug trafficking and “narco-terrorism.” 3. Legal and Political Context In New York, Maduro pled “not guilty” and called his detention an illegal kidnapping by the United States. The United States has indicted him on multiple serious charges; the Trump administration frames the action as law enforcement, not war. Caricature by: Emad Hajjai