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A woman accompanied by two children passes by a military vehicle at the Venezuela border crossing in Cucuta, Colombia, on January 3, 2026. — Reuters
A faint scent of explosives lingered in Caracas on Saturday as residents grappled with the aftermath of an early-morning U.S. operation that resulted in the removal of strongman Nicolas Maduro.
While a handful of Maduro’s supporters gathered, shouting for his liberation, most streets remained eerily silent.
“I was jolted awake by the explosions. In that moment, I thought, ‘My God, the day has finally arrived,’ and I started crying,” said Maria Eugenia Escobar, 58, who lives in the city of six million.
The strikes commenced around 2:00 a.m. local time, with dozens of loud blasts initially mistaken for fireworks by some. Shockwaves rattled windows, prompting residents to spill out onto balconies and terraces as military aircraft streaked overhead.
“It was terrible; we could hear the planes flying over our home,” recounted a resident from the Coche neighborhood, near the city’s largest military complex, which was hit during the attack.
Fires and billowing smoke marked several parts of the city, enveloped soon by a fog-like haze. Witnesses reported bombings in La Guaira, at Caracas’s airport and port, in Maracay to the west, and in Higuerote to the east.
Meanwhile, Venezuelans quickly learned Maduro had been detained by U.S. special forces and transported to face trial in New York.
A small rally in Caracas saw supporters shouting, “Long live Nicolas Maduro,” from a makeshift stage blaring revolutionary music, responding to chants of “Long live!”
Katia Briceno, 54, a university professor, protested what she called U.S. “barbarism.” “How can a foreign government come into our country and remove our president? It’s absurd!” she told AFP.
Most others remained indoors, with only sporadic cars seen on deserted streets, guarded by police in black uniforms carrying long guns.
Many businesses were shut down after the attack, though some stores opened with limited capacity, forming lines of customers.
Damage was largely confined to military sites, with vehicles riddled with bullets, some burning and others charred.
Satellite images showed Caracas before and after the strikes, revealing the extent of the destruction.
Venezuelan Defense Minister General Vladimir Padrino Lopez accused U.S. forces of targeting civilian areas with missiles and helicopters. President Trump stated that no U.S. personnel had been killed but did not disclose the toll on Venezuela.
The country’s future remains uncertain for Caracas residents. Trump declared he isn’t worried about invading with ground troops and hinted at potentially larger strikes if needed. He asserted that the U.S. intends to oversee Venezuela until a political change occurs.
Opposition leader Maria Corina Machado called for Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia, who the opposition claims won the July 2024 election, to immediately take on his constitutional role as president.
Trump dismissed the idea that Machado might lead Venezuela, citing a lack of support there, and suggested working instead with Maduro’s deputy, Delcy Rodriguez, who he said is willing to cooperate in making Venezuela “great again.”
Across the border, Colombian forces reinforced their positions using tanks and armed soldiers, particularly at main crossings, under orders from President Gustavo Petro, who has publicly disagreed with Trump over regional military movements.
Petro’s government warns of a possible humanitarian crisis as migrants flood across the border from Venezuela. On Saturday, the main crossing at the Simon Bolivar Bridge saw far fewer pedestrians than usual.
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