At about 1:15 AM eastern time this morning, January 3, reports began flooding in claiming multiple explosions taking place at and near an air base in Caracas, Venezuela.
The reports specifically claimed Miranda Air Force Base was attacked by drones, at least (5) explosions.
Other reports claimed Residents heard explosions near Fort Tiuna in the southern suburbs of Caracas.
President Nicolas Maduro told Venezuelans to keep calm, that there were many secondary explosions due to ongoing drone attacks. He also said these attacks were being carried out by new tech jets, previously unknown, very silent, and were not heavy ordinance, but more for show.
Social media is lighting up with images and video:
#BREAKING: Air raid sirens sound across Caracas, Venezuela! #Venezuela pic.twitter.com/wASgJWEgJ4
— Intel Net (@IntelNet) January 3, 2026
Videos muestran bombardeos y explosiones en #Caracas #Venezuela esta madrugada del 3 de enero de 2026 https://t.co/Jv0CT2G3Iz Se perciben sobre la base aérea de La Carlota, en Caracas pic.twitter.com/VZZwBsZ4lu
— La Prensa Panamá (@prensacom) January 3, 2026
CHINOOK HELICOPTERS OVER VENEZUELA CAPITAL - INVASION TROOPS?
At least SEVEN (7) presumably U.S. Chinook Helicopters (Double-prop rotors) have been video recorded over the Capital city of Caracas. These helicopters would normally carry invasion troops.
🚨 ÚLTIMA HORA
— Emmanuel Rincón (@EmmaRincon) January 3, 2026
Se visualizan las aeronaves estadounidenses en territorio venezolano. pic.twitter.com/LUHLXp9e1e
MADURO CAPTURED? --- YES!
Reports are now widely coming in claiming Venezuelan President Nicholas Maduro was "captured."
UPDATE 8:28 AM EST -- CONFIRMED! Nicholas Maduro -- and his wife -- "Arrested" by US Forces, and flown out of the country!
CONGRESS REPORTEDLY NOTIFIED OF VENEZUELA STRIKES AFTER THE FACT
The Trump administration reportedly notified congressional leadership about the Venezuela operation to capture Maduro after it was already done.
The justification? Article II of the Constitution, which makes the president commander-in-chief of the military.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio told Senator Mike Lee the kinetic action was legal under Article II because it protected U.S. personnel executing Maduro's arrest warrant.
This breaks with tradition. Previous administrations typically notified congressional leaders before military operations.
White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles previously said in an interview that strikes in Venezuela would require congressional approval. They apparently didn't get it beforehand. So Congress got a heads-up after U.S. forces already struck another country, captured its leader, and flew him out.
The legal argument is protecting arrest warrant executors, not seeking regime change.
Whether that holds up remains to be seen.
VENEZUELA FOREIGN MINISTER CONFIRMS
Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yván Gil stated in a telephone interview with Telesur that, following the US attack on Venezuela and the arrest of President Nicolás Maduro and First Lady Cilia Flores, he maintained communications with various officials from allied countries.
“This morning I received calls from the foreign ministries of Colombia, Brazil, South Africa, Namibia, and Russia . We have received multiple expressions of support; we have received calls from all over,” Gil stated this Saturday.
The official stated that Venezuela will denounce the incident before the United Nations. “We are facing an action unlike anything we have seen in Latin America for many years. Venezuela will exercise its right to defense in all international forums, activating all available mechanisms,” he said.
He also mentioned that the sites affected by bombings include airports, military and civilian facilities.
“As Vice President Delcy Rodríguez has reported, we have been victims of a cowardly attack by the United States, by the government of Donald Trump, who has taken a false step by bombing the capital city, the port of La Guaira, by bombing airports and other civilian and military installations, and above all a violation of international law,” he added.
U.S. ATTORNEY GENERAL
US Attorney General Pam Bondi says Maduro has been indicted in New York on drugs and weapons charges. Earlier, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told a GOP senator Maduro will stand trial in the US and that he anticipates no further action.
• Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez said the government is unaware of the whereabouts of Maduro and first lady Cilia Flores, adding the US attack has cost the lives of officials, military personnel and civilians across the country.
ARREST WARRANT OUT OF NEW YORK CITY 2020
The arrest warrant against Nicolas Maduro by the southern district of NY (SDNY) goes back all the way to 2020.
The U.S. government indicted Nicolás Maduro in 2020 on federal narcoterrorism and drug-trafficking charges — part of a broader case alleging that Maduro and several current and former Venezuelan officials conspired to traffic cocaine into the United States and commit related offenses.
That indictment was unsealed in the United States District Court for the **Southern District of New York (SDNY)**, a prominent federal trial court in Manhattan.
U.S. prosecutors in SDNY brought these charges — meaning any arrest warrant issued under those charges would originate from this federal court.
Below is the news release from the year 2020 announcing Maduro had been Indicted:
This situation, while unprecedented, provides an interesting argument for President Trump.
Congress may say THEY must authorize the use of force against another country BUT . . . .
President Trump can rightly say he was executing an Arrest Warrant, issued by a federal court, and a President does not need Congressional permission to do that, because it is an inherent Executive Power under Article 2 of the Constitution!
