US President Donald Trump announced that the United States successfully conducted a large-scale operation against Venezuela and its leader, President Nicolas Maduro.

According to Hvylya, Trump shared the news on his Truth Social platform, stating that Maduro and his wife were detained and flown out of the country. He clarified that the operation was carried out in coordination with US law enforcement.

"Details to follow. A press conference will be held at Mar-a-Lago today at 11:00 AM. Thank you for your attention to this matter! President DONALD J. TRUMP," the US leader wrote.

Earlier, a series of powerful explosions rocked the Venezuelan capital, Caracas, on January 3, followed by the sounding of air raid sirens. Media outlets reported a possible US military operation.

Footage circulating online captures the sounds of detonations and wailing sirens. Venezuelan authorities have not yet officially confirmed the cause of the incident or provided casualty figures; however, emergency services have been deployed to the scenes. Reports indicate that the southern part of the capital, home to a military base, is completely without power.

"Residents have been urged to remain cautious while the investigation continues. Additional information is expected as officials release updates," the report stated.

Journalists pointed to a sharp spike in the "Pizza Index" as an indirect sign of escalation: food orders at Pentagon headquarters surged by 333%. Traditionally, such a surge is associated with late-night crisis meetings in Washington.

According to Reuters, southern Caracas near the military base was left without power following airstrikes.

Colombian President Gustavo Petro reacted to the events on his X (formerly Twitter) page, accusing a third party of aggression.

"Warn the world: Venezuela has been attacked. They are bombing Caracas now. Global alert: they have attacked Venezuela. They are bombing with missiles. The OAS and the UN must meet immediately," he wrote.

Meanwhile, Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yvan Gil reported that Maduro signed a decree declaring a state of emergency due to the attack and is calling for mobilization. He stated that Venezuela has been subjected to military aggression by the US, claiming the goal of the American attack is to seize Venezuelan oil and minerals. Gil noted that the Venezuelan Armed Forces have been deployed to defend the country's sovereignty.

CBS News journalist Jennifer Jacobs reports that Trump ordered strikes on targets within Venezuela, including military facilities. Early Saturday morning, his administration intensified its campaign against the regime of President Nicolas Maduro.

US officials confirmed to CBS News that Trump ordered the strikes on Venezuela. Notably, officials initially only stated they were "aware" of reports regarding explosions and military aircraft over Caracas.