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.

CARACAS/WASHINGTON -- The US military launched a series of attacks against Venezuela early Saturday morning, reportedly capturing President Nicolas Maduro and flying him out of the country.

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

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

WHAT HAPPENED?

A Xinhua correspondent based in Caracas reported early Saturday morning that low-flying aircraft were spotted, and clouds of smoke were seen following loud explosion sounds in the Venezuelan capital.

Photos and videos circulating on social media showed smoke rising from multiple locations in the capital, with residents seen fleeing in the streets.

Reports said brief power outages occurred in some areas, including a military base in Caracas.

According to media reports, the US Federal Aviation Administration had banned US commercial flights from Venezuelan airspace due to "ongoing military activity" shortly before the explosions were reported.

Hours after the incident, CBS White House correspondent Jennifer Jacobs said that US President Donald Trump had ordered the strikes, citing US officials. FOX News also reported that US officials had confirmed the military action.

Following the attacks, Venezuela condemned the incident as "military aggression" by the United States. The Venezuelan government said that the military strike targeted civilian and military sites in at least four states of the country, including Caracas, as well as the states of Miranda, Aragua and La Guaira, adding that the US action blatantly violated the United Nations Charter.

Later in the day, Trump in a Truth Social post that Maduro and his wife had been captured and flown out of Venezuela.

"The United States of America has successfully carried out a large scale strike against Venezuela and its leader, President Nicolas Maduro, who has been, along with his wife, captured and flown out of the Country," Trump said in the post.

For months, the United States has maintained a significant military presence in the Caribbean, much of it off Venezuela's coast, purportedly to combat drug trafficking — a claim Venezuela has denounced as an attempt to bring about regime change in Caracas.

WIDESPREAD CONDEMNATION

Colombian President Gustavo Petro on Saturday called for an urgent meeting of the Organization of American States and the United Nations on the attack in Venezuela. "Caracas is currently being bombed ... Venezuela has been attacked," he wrote on social media platform X.

On the same day, Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel condemned what he described as the "criminal US attack" against Venezuela, demanding an urgent response from the international community.

In a social media post, the president said that the Latin American region was being brutally assaulted, and "this is state terrorism against the brave Venezuelan people and against Our America."

Meanwhile, the Russian Foreign Ministry said that the United States committed "an act of armed aggression" against Venezuela, which causes deep concern and condemnation.

Konstantin Kosachev, deputy speaker of Russia's Federation Council, said the US military operation against Venezuela has no legitimate basis as the South American country has posed no threat to the United States.

Kosachev stressed that the international order should be based on international law rather than on so-called rules imposed by individual countries. He said international law has clearly been violated, adding that "an order established in this manner must not prevail."

Kosachev also said he believed that most countries would firmly distance themselves from the attack on Venezuela and condemn it.

Also on Saturday, Iran's Foreign Ministry strongly condemned the US military attack against Venezuela as a "flagrant violation" of the Latin American state's national sovereignty and territorial integrity.

It said the US military attack against Venezuela was an "act of aggression and in clear violation" of the fundamental principles of the UN Charter and international law, which bans the use of force against sovereign states.

It called on the United Nations as well as all governments caring about the rule of law and international peace and security to immediately and explicitly condemn the US attack.

The Spanish Foreign Ministry on Saturday also said that Spain calls for a deescalation as well as moderation and respect for international law in Venezuela.

BRUSSELS -- European Council President Antonio Costa said on Saturday the European Union (EU) was following the situation in Venezuela "with great concern" and urged de-escalation.

"The European Union calls for de-escalation and a resolution in full respect of international law and the principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations," he wrote on X.

He said the bloc would continue to support a peaceful, democratic and inclusive solution in Venezuela, and backed efforts by EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, working with member states, to ensure the safety of European citizens in the country.

Earlier on Saturday, Kallas said the EU was closely monitoring developments and called for restraint, stressing that the principles of international law and the United Nations Charter must be respected.

Kallas said she had spoken with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the EU ambassador in Caracas, adding that the safety of EU citizens in Venezuela was the bloc's top priority.

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.

WASHINGTON  -- US Attorney General Pam Bondi said Saturday morning that Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro will "soon face the full wrath of American justice on American soil in American courts" after he was captured and flown out of the oil-rich South American nation.

BERLIN -- The German government's crisis team convened at the Federal Foreign Office on Saturday to discuss the situation in Venezuela.

The foreign office said in a statement that they are monitoring the situation in Venezuela very closely and following the latest reports with the greatest concern, according to the website of Tagesschau, flagship news program of German public broadcaster ARD.

The ministry added that it remains in close contact with the German embassy in Caracas.

Describing the current situation as "still unclear in parts," the ministry noted that the German government is coordinating its response closely with international partners.

Earlier on Saturday, the United States launched a large-scale strike on Venezuela, during which Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife were "captured and flown out of Venezuela," according to a post by US President Donald Trump on his Truth Social account.

WASHINGTON/CARACAS -- 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.

"The United States of America has successfully carried out a large scale strike against Venezuela and its leader, President Nicolas Maduro, who has been, along with his wife, captured and flown out of the Country," Trump said in a Truth Social post, adding that the operation "was done in conjunction with US Law Enforcement."

He also announced a news conference scheduled for 11 am local time (1600 GMT) on Saturday at Mar-a-Lago, Florida.

Low-flying aircraft were spotted, and clouds of smoke were seen following loud explosion sounds at around 2:00 am (0600 GMT) Saturday in Caracas, sending people rushing into the streets and causing brief power outages in parts of the capital, including at a military base.

Shortly after the strike started, the Venezuelan government denounced the "military aggression" by the United States, adding that the strike targeted civilian and military sites in at least four states of the country.

Following Trump's announcement, Venezuelan Vice-president Delcy Rodriguez said on state TV that the government does not know the whereabouts of Maduro and his wife, adding, "We demand proof of life."

Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez said in a video posted to social media that the US military on early Saturday rocked urban areas across Venezuela with missiles and rockets. "This invasion represents the biggest insult the country has ever faced," Padrino said. "Far from a supposed fight against narcoterrorism, this deplorable action seeks to force a regime change."

The minister announced a deployment of military forces across the country to resist the presence of foreign troops.

The New York Times reported on Saturday, citing a US government official, that there were no casualties on the US side in the military operation against Venezuela.

The US Federal Aviation Administration on early Saturday morning barred US aircraft from flying at any altitude within Venezuelan airspace following reports of explosions in Caracas, citing "safety-of-flight risks associated with ongoing military activity."

Republican US Senator Mike Lee said on social media Saturday that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio had told him Maduro was arrested by US forces to stand trial on criminal charges in the United States, according to multiple media reports.

Over the past months, the United States has maintained a significant military presence in the Caribbean, including the USS Gerald R. Ford, an aircraft carrier, and about 15,000 troops, much of it off Venezuela's coast, purportedly to combat drug trafficking -- a claim Venezuela has denounced as a thinly veiled attempt to bring about regime change in Caracas.

MOSCOW -- A US military operation against Venezuela has no legitimate basis since the South American country has posed no threat to the United States, Konstantin Kosachev, deputy speaker of Russia's Federation Council, said on Saturday.

"Without any doubt, Venezuela has created no threats to the United States -- neither military, nor humanitarian, nor criminal, nor drug-related," Kosachev wrote on his Telegram channel.

"Therefore, the current military operation, like the actions taken against Venezuela over recent days and weeks, has no substantive grounds," he said.

Kosachev stressed that the international order should be based on international law rather than on so-called rules imposed by individual countries. He said international law has clearly been violated, adding that "an order established in this manner must not prevail."

Kosachev also expressed confidence that most nations would firmly distance themselves from the attack on Venezuela and condemn it.

Venezuela demands UN Security Council hold an emergency meeting