CARACAS -- Several Venezuelan political figures on Saturday strongly condemned US aggression and called on the public to remain calm and alert.

Venezuela's Vice-President Delcy Rodriguez, speaking on a state-run television station, said the whereabouts of President Nicolas Maduro and his wife were unknown, asking for proof they are alive.

She added that the US military aggression caused the deaths of many Venezuelan military personnel and civilians in the capital Caracas, as well as in the states of Miranda, Aragua and La Guaira.

No external government or external force should attempt to give orders to Venezuela, nor should they try to dominate the Venezuelan people, she stressed, adding that the US act violates the South American nation's sovereignty, undermines peace and tranquility, and claims the lives of innocent Venezuelans.

"They made a sneaky, vile attack on sleeping people. They cowardly attacked the people," Venezuelan Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello said, condemning the US attack on Caracas.

He urged the public to remain calm, calling for letting no one "fall into despair" or "fall into making things easier for the invading enemy, the terrorist enemy who attacked us cowardly."

Tarek William Saab, attorney general of Venezuela, said the US government should be held responsible for what could happen to Maduro and his wife.

"I strongly condemn the vile and cowardly attack by the imperial enemy, carried out in the early hours of the morning against civilian and innocent targets of our homeland," he said.

This fact shows that what the Venezuelan president had warned about has now turned into acts of blood, he added.

He also urged the public to remain calm and alert, without falling into the "enemy's psychological warfare."

OSLO -- The foreign ministers of Norway and Denmark on Saturday voiced concern over the latest US military operation in Venezuela, stressing that international law must be respected and calling for de-escalation and dialogue under the United Nations framework.

Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide underscored that Washington's move raises serious legal concerns.

"The American intervention in Venezuela is not in line with international law," he told Norwegian broadcaster NRK.

Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen told Danish broadcaster DR that the situation in Venezuela represents a serious escalation and that he expects the UN Security Council to convene quickly to discuss the developments.

Rasmussen also emphasized the need to uphold international law. "We must maintain respect for the international rules of the game," he said.

US President Donald Trump said on Saturday that the United States has struck Venezuela and captured its President Nicolas Maduro, who was flown out of the country along with his wife.

Venezuela on Saturday denounced a "military aggression" by the United States, after large explosions were heard and aircraft were seen over the capital Caracas earlier in the day.

THE HAGUE -- Several members of the Dutch House of Representatives on Saturday condemned a US attack on Venezuela, which led to the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.

Socialist Party leader Jimmy Dijk wrote on social media platform X that "Trump is bombing boats, drowning people, ports, and now another country." He warned that such military expansion is fueling international instability and endangering lives, stressing that the Netherlands must condemn the attack.

GreenLeft-Labor Party leader Jesse Klaver also denounced what he described as an "illegal attack by the Trump administration on Venezuela," saying it could have serious consequences for the region, including the Caribbean parts of the Kingdom of the Netherlands - Aruba, Bonaire, and Curacao.

Christine Teunissen of the Party for the Animals likewise labeled the action an "illegal attack," noting that it impacts people who are already "in an extremely vulnerable situation." She urged the Dutch cabinet to issue a strong condemnation.

According to Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof, the cabinet is closely following developments in the Caribbean and the situation in Venezuela.

Dutch Foreign Minister David Van Weel issued a statement which called on "all parties to prevent further escalation and to comply with international law."

US President Donald Trump said on Saturday that the United States has struck Venezuela and captured its President Nicolas Maduro, who was flown out of the country along with his wife.

Venezuela on Saturday denounced a "military aggression" by the United States, after large explosions were heard and aircraft were seen over the capital Caracas earlier in the day.

Trump says US will not forget about Monroe Doctrine anymore

MADRID -- The Spanish government on Saturday called for "de-escalation" following the United States attack on the Venezuelan capital, Caracas, which led to the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in the early hours of Saturday morning.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said on social media that "the Spanish government is closely following the events in Venezuela and both our embassy and consulates are operating."

"We call for de-escalation and for responsibility," wrote Sanchez, stressing that "International Law needs to be respected."

The Spanish Ministry for Foreign Affairs also issued a communique which called for "de-escalation and moderation, and for all actions to be respected in accordance with International Law and the principles of the UN Charter."

According to official figures, around 136,000 Spanish citizens were registered as living in Venezuela in 2023.

The Spanish Foreign Ministry said it was "closely monitoring the situation of the Spanish community in the country," and confirmed that staff at the Embassy and Consulate of Spain in Caracas, as well as their families, are safe.

PARIS -- French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot on Saturday voiced strong opposition to the US military operation that led to the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.

In a statement posted on his official X account, Barrot warned that such actions erode the foundations of international law and will have "serious consequences for global security, which will spare no one."

He stressed that "no lasting political solution can be imposed from outside and that sovereign peoples alone decide their own future."

France "reiterates her commitment to the Charter of the United Nations, which must continue to guide the international action of States, always and everywhere," Barrot said.

US President Donald Trump said on Saturday that the United States has struck Venezuela and captured its President Nicolas Maduro, who was flown out of the country along with his wife.

Venezuela on Saturday denounced a "military aggression" by the United States, after large explosions were heard and aircraft were seen over the capital Caracas earlier in the day.

Trump says US oil companies would fix Venezuela's infrastructure, "and start making money for the country".

Several Democratic lawmakers on Saturday condemned the US military strikes on Venezuela and the capture of President Nicolas Maduro, calling the action illegal due to a lack of congressional authorization and warning of potential chaos. Representative Jim Himes (Connecticut), ranking member on the House Intelligence Committee, stated there is no evidence justifying military action without Congress's approval and demanded an immediate briefing on legal justification and post-operation stability plans.

Other Democrats, including Senator Ruben Gallego (Arizona) and Senator Andy Kim (New Jersey), described the operation as an "unjustified war" and one that sends a disturbing signal globally. Top party leaders have not yet issued statements.

Senator Tim Kaine (Virginia) described this military operation as a "sickening return" to asserting dominance over the internal affairs of Western Hemisphere nations. Kaine announced he would force a Senate vote next week on a resolution to constrain the president's war powers regarding Venezuela.

WASHINGTON -- US President Donald Trump said on Saturday the United States will "run" Venezuela after the US military raided the country and captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, who are being transported to New York.

"We're going to run the country until such time as we can do a safe, proper and judicious transition," Trump said at a press conference at his Mar-a-Lago private club in Florida. "We don't want to be involved with having somebody else get in, and we have the same situation that we had for the last long period of years. So we are going to run the country," he said. "We're there now. We're going to stay until such time as the proper transition can take place," Trump added, offering no timeline for how long such a transition of power is expected to take.

Trump said he plans to authorize US oil giants to take over and invest in Venezuela's energy infrastructure and "start making money for the country." He later said top US officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, would work with a team to help run Venezuela.

Trump refused to rule out the possibility of further US military involvement. "We're not afraid of boots on the ground," he said.

Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said at the press conference that the US troops will remain in the region following large-scale strikes on Venezuela and the capture of Maduro. "As we stand here this morning, our forces remain in the region at a high state of readiness, prepared to project power, defend themselves and our interests in the region," he said.

Trump posted a photo of Maduro on board USS Iwo Jima.

MOSCOW -- Russia strongly urges the US leadership to release Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, the Russian foreign ministry said Saturday.

In a statement, the ministry called on the United States to reconsider its position regarding Maduro and his wife.

The statement also stressed the need to create conditions for resolving any existing issues between the United States and Venezuela through dialogue.

Earlier in the day, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Russia will continue to support the course pursued by the Venezuelan government to protect its national interests and sovereignty during his phone call with Venezuela's Vice President Delcy Rodriguez.

Lavrov expressed solidarity with the Venezuelan people in the face of US armed aggression, and both sides spoke in favor of preventing further escalation and finding a way out of the situation through dialogue, the ministry said in another statement.

The two parties expressed their intention to further strengthen their comprehensive strategic partnership, it added.

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva strongly condemned the US military actions in Venezuela as an "extremely dangerous precedent for the entire international community", according to a statement he posted on X.

He described the operation as a "flagrant violation of international law" that could lead to "a world of violence, chaos and instability", and likened it to past interferences in Latin American politics that threaten regional peace.

The condemnation comes amid a broader international backlash following US President Trump's announcement of a large-scale military strike on Venezuela and the capture of President Nicolas Maduro on Jan 3.

Brazilian officials are reportedly discussing the situation in emergency meetings.

UNITED NATIONS -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is deeply alarmed by the recent escalation in Venezuela, culminating with the US military action in the country on Saturday, which has potential worrying implications for the region, his spokesperson said in a statement.

"Independently of the situation in Venezuela, these developments constitute a dangerous precedent," said the statement issued by spokesperson Stephane Dujarric.

"The Secretary-General continues to emphasize the importance of full respect -- by all -- of international law, including the UN Charter. He's deeply concerned that the rules of international law have not been respected," it said.

The secretary-general calls on all actors in Venezuela to engage in inclusive dialogue, in full respect of human rights and the rule of law, it added.

Venezuela's permanent mission to the United Nations issued a statement on Jan 3 requesting the UN Security Council president to convene an emergency meeting on the US attack against Venezuela, in accordance with the principles of the UN Charter.

Meanwhile, Venezuelan Vice-President Delcy Rodriguez stated on national television that the government does not know the whereabouts of President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, demanding proof that they are alive. She accused the US military incursion of causing deaths among military personnel and civilians in Caracas and several states, describing it as a violation of sovereignty that disrupts peace and takes innocent lives. US President Trump earlier confirmed a large-scale US military strike on Venezuela and the capture of Maduro.

WASHINGTON -- US President Donald Trump said Saturday that Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were taken to a ship after being captured by US forces and will be transported to New York.

Trump told Fox News that the pair have been indicted in New York and will be transferred to the state.

He said he watched the overnight operation that led to their capture, which was "literally like I was watching a television show."

Maduro was "in a house that was more like a fortress than a house" with "solid steel all around" when captured, said Trump.

Trump did not rule out the possibility of a second strike against Venezuela following Maduro's capture.

UNITED NATIONS -- The Permanent Mission of Venezuela to the United Nations on Saturday sent a letter to Abukar Dahir Osman, president of the Security Council for January, condemning "brutal, unjustified and unilateral" US armed attacks against the South American nation.

The letter also put forward four demands: an urgent Security Council meeting to discuss the US aggression, a strong condemnation of the aggression against Venezuela, an immediate halt to US military attacks, and measures to hold Washington accountable for its "crime of aggression."

US military forces bombed civilian and military sites in the capital of Caracas and other cities in the states of Miranda, Aragua and La Guaira earlier Saturday, and carried out attacks across the country with helicopters and airplanes, it said.

The letter noted that the attacks constituted a flagrant act of aggression that is premeditated, acknowledged and publicized by Washington, and that they "flagrantly" violated the UN Charter.

The US attack was carried out against a country in full peace, it said, noting that it aims at toppling the current Venezuelan regime and imposing a "puppet government" to plunder the country's oil resources.

China is deeply shocked by and strongly condemns the United States blatant use of force against a sovereign state and action against its president, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on Saturday following US military strikes against Venezuela.

"Such hegemonic acts of the US seriously violate international law and Venezuela's sovereignty, and threaten peace and security in Latin America and the Caribbean region. China firmly opposes it," the spokesperson said.

The spokesperson called on the US to abide by international law and the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter, and stop violating other countries' sovereignty and security.

According to reports, US President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social that the US had "successfully" carried out a large-scale strike against Venezuela, and said its leader, President Nicolas Maduro, along with his wife, had been taken and "flown out of the country".

LONDON -- British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said that Britain was "not involved in any way" in the US operation in Venezuela, according to British media reports on Saturday.

In remarks recorded for British broadcasters, Starmer said he had not spoken to US President Donald Trump about Washington's capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.

"It is obviously a fast-moving situation and we need to establish all the facts," he said, adding that he is seeking more information before making further comment.

Starmer said there were about 500 British nationals in Venezuela, and that the government was working with the embassy to ensure they were well looked after, safeguarded and given appropriate advice.

US President Donald Trump said on Saturday that the United States has struck Venezuela and captured its President Nicolas Maduro, who was flown out of the country along with his wife.

Venezuela on Saturday denounced a "military aggression" by the United States, after large explosions were heard and aircraft were seen over the capital Caracas earlier in the day.

JOHANNESBURG -- Venezuelan Ambassador to South Africa Carlos Feo Acevedo on Saturday strongly condemned US military aggression against Venezuela, describing it as a "clear kidnapping" of President Nicolas Maduro and a serious violation of international law.

Acevedo made the remarks during an interview with Russia Today, a Russian media group. "It is a clear violation and a clear criminal terrorist act perpetrated by the US administration against Venezuela," he said, accusing Washington of breaching international norms, including the UN Charter, as well as its own domestic laws.

The United States conducted "criminal strikes against the people of Venezuela," the ambassador said, noting that the objective was to exert control over the country's natural resources.

The US military launched a series of attacks against Venezuela early Saturday morning, during which Maduro was captured and flown out of the country along with his wife. US Attorney General Pam Bondi said Maduro will face trial in the United States.

The military action against the South American nation has drawn widespread international condemnation, with multiple countries calling for a coordinated global response.

The Foreign Ministry and the Chinese Embassy in Venezuela on Saturday advised Chinese citizens to temporarily refrain from traveling to Venezuela, citing a sharp deterioration in the country's security situation.

The advisory followed the United States' military strikes against Venezuela on Saturday, which have significantly heightened security risks across the country.

Chinese citizens and institutions currently in Venezuela have been urged to closely monitor local security developments, strengthen safety precautions and emergency preparedness, and avoid unnecessary outings. They were also advised to stay clear of conflict zones and other sensitive areas.

In case of emergency, Chinese nationals are instructed to contact local police immediately and seek assistance from the Chinese Embassy in Venezuela, the notice said.