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 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.
The order to launch the mission was authorized late Friday night U.S. time, shortly before midnight in Caracas, with commanders aiming to maximize surprise and operate under cover of darkness. The operation combined air, land, and sea actions and lasted just over two hours, according to senior military officials.
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.
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.
