US carried out 'extraordinary military operation' in Venezuelan capital, says Trump

By Diyar Guldogan

WASHINGTON (AA) - President Donald Trump said Saturday that the US had carried out an "extraordinary military operation" in the Venezuelan capital Caracas.

“Late last night and early today, at my direction, the United States Armed Forces conducted an extraordinary military operation in the capital of Venezuela," Trump told a news conference in the US state of Florida flanked by senior Cabinet officials, including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

"Overwhelming American military power, air, land, and sea was used to launch a spectacular assault -- and it was an assault like people have not seen since World War II.”

Trump said not a single American service member was killed, and not a single piece of American equipment was lost.

The president also said the US embargo on Venezuelan oil -- which began late last year -- remains "in full effect."

Earlier, he announced that Washington carried out a "large scale strike" against Venezuela, and that President Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores were "captured and flown out" of the country.

Trump said after their capture by US forces, Maduro and his wife were taken to a ship and were headed to New York.

On Truth Social, Trump also posted a picture of Maduro on board the USS Iwo Jima.

US Attorney General Pam Bondi said Maduro and his wife have been indicted in the Southern District of New York on multiple criminal charges, including "narco-terrorism."