By: Richard L. Smith
New Jersey residents, including many with ties to Venezuela, are waking up this Saturday morning confronting a dramatic and unprecedented development after the United States carried out a significant military operation in Venezuela early Saturday that resulted in the removal of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife from power.
In an early morning post on Truth Social, U.S. President Donald Trump announced that American forces executed large-scale strikes and captured Maduro and his spouse, flying them out of the country as part of the military action.
Explosions were reported across Caracas and other regions as aircraft and strikes hit key targets in and around the Venezuelan capital.
Overnight, the United States launched coordinated military strikes against Venezuelan targets, marking a major escalation in an already tense standoff between the two nations.
Venezuelan officials and state media reported explosions, aircraft overhead, and power outages in Caracas in the early hours of Saturday.
President Trump’s announcement that Maduro has been captured followed these strikes, although detailed confirmation from U.S. defense authorities remained limited at the time of reporting, 4:40 a.m.
According to ABC News, in reaction to the attacks, Venezuela’s Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino and the government condemned the operation as an unlawful assault on sovereignty and rejected the U.S. military action.
They described it as “military aggression” and vowed to resist any foreign military presence. President Maduro’s administration declared a national emergency and called on citizens and armed forces to mobilize in response.
For the Venezuelan-American community here, one of the largest in the United States, the events mark a rapid escalation from months of mounting tensions between Caracas and Washington. Prior to this weekend, many in New Jersey were already closely watching diplomatic and military developments, including heightened U.S. military activity in the Caribbean, sanctions, and repeated warnings from both governments.
Residents with family members in Venezuela, dual citizens, or those planning travel should be aware that:
• Travel conditions could be disrupted — U.S. aviation authorities have issued flight restrictions over Venezuelan airspace, and the U.S. Embassy has advised avoiding travel to the country.
• Communications may be sporadic as military operations and emergency measures affect infrastructure.
• Consular and community support resources may become more active, offering guidance for New Jersey Venezuelans and their families.
This remains a fluid situation with more developments likely. New Jersey officials and community organizations are expected to issue further advisories as details become available.