At least seven explosions and low-flying aircraft were heard around 2 a.m. local time on Saturday in the capital, Caracas.
At least seven explosions and low-flying aircraft were heard around 2 a.m. local time Saturday in Venezuela’s capital, Caracas. Venezuela’s government did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Men watch smoke rising from a dock after explosions were heard at La Guaira port, Venezuela, Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
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Smoke rises from Fort Tiuna, the main military garrison in Caracas, Venezuela, after multiple explosions were heard and aircraft swept through the area, Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
Supporters of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro embrace in downtown Caracas, Venezuela, Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026, after U.S. President Donald Trump announced that Maduro had been captured and flown out of the country. (AP Photo/Cristian Hernandez)
Destroyed containers lay at La Guaira port after explosions were heard in Venezuela, Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
National Guard armored vehicles block an avenue leading to Miraflores presidential palace in Caracas, Venezuela, Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Cristian Hernandez)
By REGINA GARCIA CANO and KONSTANTIN TOROPINUpdated 11:29 AM GMT-3, January 3, 2026
▶ Follow live updates on the capture of Nicolás Maduro
CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — The United States captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and flew him out of the country in an extraordinary nighttime operation that was accompanied by a flurry of strikes following months of escalating Trump administration pressure on the oil-rich South American nation.
The U.S. is now deciding next steps for Venezuela, President Donald Trump said Saturday on Fox News, adding, “We’ll be involved in it very much.”
The legal authority for the attack was not immediately clear. The stunning American military action, which plucked a nation’s sitting leader from office, echoed the U.S. invasion of Panama that led to the surrender and seizure of its leader, Manuel Antonio Noriega, in 1990 — exactly 36 years ago Saturday.
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi said Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, would face charges after an indictment in New York. Bondi vowed in a social media post that the couple would “soon face the full wrath of American justice on American soil in American courts.”
Maduro and other Venezuelan officials were indicted in 2020 on “narco-terrorism” conspiracy charges, but it was not previously known his wife had been and it wasn’t clear if Bondi was referring to a new indictment.
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Venezuelan ruling party leader Nahum Fernández told The Associated Press that Maduro and Flores were at their home within the Ft. Tiuna military installation when they were captured.
“That’s where they bombed,” he said. “And, there, they carried out what we could call a kidnapping of the president and the first lady of the country.”
Early Saturday, multiple explosions rang out and low-flying aircraft swept through the Venezuelan capital. Maduro’s government accused the United States of attacking civilian and military installations, calling it an “imperialist attack” and urging citizens to take to the streets.
With the Venezuelan leader’s whereabouts not known, the vice president, Delcy Rodríguez, would take power under Venezuelan law. There was no confirmation that had happened, though she did issue a statement after the strike, demanding proof of life for Maduro and his wife.
Maduro, Trump said, “has been, along with his wife, captured and flown out of the Country. This operation was done in conjunction with U.S. Law Enforcement.” He set a news conference for Saturday morning.
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The attack itself lasted less than 30 minutes and the explosions — at least seven blasts — sent people rushing into the streets, while others took to social media to report what they’d seen and heard. Some Venezuelan civilians and members of the military were killed, said Rodríguez, the vice president, without giving a number.
It was not known if there more actions lie ahead, though Trump said in his post that the strikes were carried out “successfully.” The Pentagon referred questions about the safety of American personnel involved in the operation to the White House.
The White House did not immediately respond to queries on where Maduro and his wife were being flown to.
Maduro last appeared on state television Friday while meeting with a delegation of Chinese officials in Caracas.
The strike followed a months-long Trump administration pressure campaign on the Venezuelan leader, including a major buildup of American forces in the waters off South America and attacks on boats in the eastern Pacific and Caribbean accused of carrying drugs. Last week, the CIA was behind a drone strike at a docking area believed to have been used by Venezuelan drug cartels — the first known direct operation on Venezuelan soil since the U.S. began strikes in September.
As of Friday, the number of known boat strikes was 35 and the number of people killed at least 115, according to the Trump administration. Trump said that the U.S. is engaged in an “armed conflict” with drug cartels and has justified the boat strikes as a necessary to stem the flow of drugs into the U.S.
Maduro has decried the U.S. military operations as a thinly veiled effort to oust him from power.
Diosdado Cabello:
The CIA was behind US strike at a Venezuelan dock, AP sources say | AP News
Live updates: US strikes Venezuela and says its leader has been captured and flown out of the country
Follow the news on Venezuela and the United States | Jan. 3, 2026
Edited By CURTIS YEE, HRVOJE HRANJSKI and BRIDGET BROWNUpdated 11:39 AM GMT-3, January 3, 2026
The United States captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and flew him out of the country in an extraordinary nighttime operation that was accompanied by a flurry of strikes following months of escalating Trump administration pressure on the oil-rich South American nation.
The U.S. is now deciding next steps for Venezuela, President Donald Trump said Saturday on Fox News, adding, “We’ll be involved in it very much.”
The legal authority for the attack was not immediately clear. The stunning American military action, which plucked a nation’s sitting leader from office, echoed the U.S. invasion of Panama that led to the surrender and seizure of its leader, Manuel Antonio Noriega, in 1990 — exactly 36 years ago Saturday.
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi said Maduro and his wife would face charges after an indictment in New York. Bondi vowed in a social media post that the couple would “soon face the full wrath of American justice on American soil in American courts.”
Trump announced the developments on Truth Social shortly after 4:30 a.m. ET and said he would host a news conference at 11 a.m. ET.
Here’s what we know so far:
- Who now controls Venezuela?: With Maduro’s whereabouts unknown, Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez would take power under Venezuelan law. There was no confirmation that had happened, though she did issue a statement demanding the U.S. provide “proof of life” for Maduro and Flores.
- Explosions in Caracas: The attack itself lasted less than 30 minutes and the explosions — at least seven blasts — sent people rushing into the streets, while others took to social media to report what they’d seen and heard. It was not known if there were any deaths or injuries on either side.
- US military action in South America: Last week, the CIA was behind a drone strike at a docking area believed to have been used by Venezuelan drug cartels — the first known direct operation on Venezuelan soil since the U.S. began strikes in September. As of Friday, the Trump administration said it had struck 35 alleged drug boats and killed at least 115 people in the attacks.
3 min ago
Trump says he proposed to the Mexican president that US take out cartels
Trump said the operation in Venezuela “wasn’t meant to be” a message to Mexico, but then he has proposed to Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum that the U.S. “take out” cartels in her country and suggested the U.S. might take action.
“We’re very friendly with her, she’s a good woman. But the cartels are running Mexico. She’s not running Mexico. The cartels are running Mexico,” Trump said.
He said he’s asked Sheinbaum numerous times, “Would you like us to take out the cartels?” but she has said no.
“Something’s going to have to be done with Mexico,” Trump said.
5 min ago
Maduro and his wife are on a US warship, Trump says
Trump told Fox News that the couple were aboard the U.S. warship Iwo Jima and headed to New York, where they will face prosecution.
11 min ago
JUST IN: Trump says Maduro and his wife are aboard US warship and will face prosecution in New York
15 min ago
Trump says US will decide on what’s next for Venezuela
President Donald Trump said in an interview Saturday morning that the United States will be making decisions on what is next for Venezuela after capturing the Latin American country’s president and flying him out of the country.
“We’ll be involved in it very much” as to who will govern the country, Trump said.
“We can’t take a chance in letting somebody else run and just take over what he left, or left off,” Trump said in an interview with Fox News hours after the capture.
15 min ago
PHOTOS: Venezuelans react to the capture of President Maduro
20 min ago
JUST IN: US now deciding what’s next for Venezuela after Maduro capture, ‘we’ll be involved in it very much’ Trump tells Fox
24 min ago
Maduro was at his home when he was seized in US operation, party leader tells AP
Venezuelan ruling party leader Nahum Fernández told The Associated Press that Nicolás Maduro and his wife were at their home within the Ft. Tiuna military installation when they were captured.
“That’s where they bombed,” he said. “And, there, they carried out what we could call a kidnapping of the president and the first lady of the country.”
28 min ago
JUST IN: Ruling Venezuelan party leader tells AP Maduro was at home on a military base when he was captured in US operation
55 min ago
Vice President JD Vance says Maduro found out that Trump ‘means what he says’
Vice President JD Vance said in a statement on X: “The president offered multiple off ramps, but was very clear throughout this process: the drug trafficking must stop, and the stolen oil must be returned to the United States. Maduro is the newest person to find out that President Trump means what he says.
Kudos to our brave special operators who pulled off a truly impressive operation.”
10:39 a. m. GMT-3
Celebrations erupt in Venezuelan community in South Florida
In South Florida, Venezuelans celebrated the news of Maduro’s capture at a rally held outside a South American eatery.
People wrapped themselves in Venezuelan flags, ate fried snacks and cheered as music was playing at the event. At one point, the crowd chanted “Liberty! Liberty! Liberty!”
The rally took place in Doral, Florida, a city of 80,000 people surrounded by Miami sprawl and home to the largest Venezuelan community in the United States.
10:25 a. m. GMT-3
European leaders react to Maduro’s capture by the US
By SUMAN NAISHADHAM, Panagiotis Pylas, ELISE MORTON, CLAUDIA CIOBANU
- EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas wrote on X that she had spoken with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the EU ambassador in Caracas. “The EU has repeatedly stated that Mr Maduro lacks legitimacy and has defended a peaceful transition. Under all circumstances, the principles of international law and the UN Charter must be respected. We call for restraint.”
- Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez called for “de-escalation and responsibility. International Law and the principles of the United Nations Charter must be respected,” Sánchez wrote on X.
- Russia’s Foreign Ministry said it is “extremely alarmed” and called for “immediate clarification,” according to a statement posted Saturday on the ministry’s Telegram channel. The ministry said such actions, if confirmed, would constitute “an unacceptable infringement on the sovereignty of an independent state.”
- British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the U.K. was not involved in the U.S. operation in Venezuela and that he would seek more information from Trump. Without condemning the U.S. action, Starmer said he always believes that international law should be upheld. “But I think at this stage, fast moving situation, let’s establish the facts and take it from there,” he said.
10:15 a. m. GMT-3
Reactions in Caracas to US strikes and Maduro’s capture are mixed
At a pro-Maduro protest in the capital, Caracas Mayor Carmen Meléndez joined a crowd that demanded that Maduro be returned immediately.
“Maduro, hold on, the people are rising up!” the crowd chanted. They also said: “We are here Nicolás Maduro. If you can hear us, we are here!” Elsewhere, residents were still taking in the events.
“How do I feel? Scared, like everyone,” said Caracas resident Noris Prada, who sat on an empty avenue looking down at his phone. “Venezuelans woke up scared, many families couldn’t sleep. I have been on the street, I just got back from Maracay, everything is blocked, everything is bad, very bad.”
“They impose the law,” electrician Alfonso Valdez said about the U.S. government. “They are the police of the world … they are assassins.”
9:42 a. m. GMT-3
Venezuelan opposition leader Machado’s spokespeople decline comment
By ASSOCIATED PRESS
Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado’s spokespeople declined to comment on the U.S. operation.
Machado was last seen in public last month, when she emerged from 11 months in hiding and traveled to Norway, where she was honored with the Nobel Peace Prize.
9:35 a. m. GMT-3
US attorney general says Maduro and wife to face criminal charges
By ERIC TUCKER
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi says Maduro and his wife will face criminal charges after an indictment in New York.
Bondi vowed in a social media post that the couple will “soon face the full wrath of American justice on American soil in American courts.”
Maduro was indicted in 2020 in New York, but it was not previously known that his wife had been.
9:27 a. m. GMT-3breaking news updates
JUST IN: US Attorney General says deposed Venezuelan leader Maduro and wife Cilia Flores to face charges after NY indictment
8:11 a. m. GMT-3
US indicted Maduro on narcoterrorism charges in 2020
The Justice Department during Trump’s first term in office charged in the several indictments that Maduro had effectively converted Venezuela into a criminal enterprise at the service of drug traffickers and terrorist groups as he and his allies stole billions from the South American country.
The coordinated unsealing of indictments against 14 officials and government-connected individuals, and rewards of $55 million for Maduro and four others, attacked all the key planks of what then-Attorney General William Barr called the “corrupt Venezuelan regime,” including the Maduro-dominated judiciary and the powerful armed forces.
One indictment by prosecutors in New York accused Maduro and socialist party boss Diosdado Cabello, head of the rubber-stamping constitutional assembly, of conspiring with Colombian rebels and members of the military “to flood the United States with cocaine” and use the drug trade as a “weapon against America.”
Read our news report from 2020 on the charges
8:08 a. m. GMT-3
State Department officials say ‘the tyrant is gone’
By ZEKE MILLER
U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau says the military action and seizure of Maduro marks “a new dawn for Venezuela,” saying that “the tyrant is gone.”
He posted on X hours after the strike. His boss, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, reposted a post from July that said Maduro “is NOT the President of Venezuela and his regime is NOT the legitimate government.”
7:58 a. m. GMT-3
Sen. Lee says Rubio told him he anticipates no further action in Venezuela
By ZEKE MILLER
Utah Sen. Mike Lee said Rubio informed him that “he anticipates no further action in Venezuela now that Maduro is in U.S. custody,” the lawmaker posted on social media.
7:52 a. m. GMT-3
Sen. Lee says Rubio briefed him that Maduro will be tried in US
By ZEKE MILLER
Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, posted on X that he had spoken with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who briefed him on the strike. Rubio told Lee that Maduro “has been arrested by U.S. personnel to stand trial on criminal charges in the United States.”
The White House did not immediately respond to queries on where Maduro and his wife were being flown to. Maduro was indicted in March 2020 on “narco-terrorism” conspiracy charges in the Southern District of New York.
7:49 a. m. GMT-3breaking news updates
JUST IN: Utah Sen. Mike Lee says Trump administration has briefed him that Maduro will face criminal charges in US
7:43 a. m. GMT-3
Who is in charge of Venezuela?
It’s not immediately clear. By law, the presidential succession follows the vice president, currently Delcy Rodríguez.
7:42 a. m. GMT-3
Colombia prepares to receive refugees from Venezuela
By ISABEL DEBRE
President Gustavo Petro of Colombia, one of Trump’s fiercest critics, said the Colombian government convened a national security meeting before dawn Saturday and sent security forces to the border in preparation for a potential “massive influx of refugees” from neighboring Venezuela.
He said he’d also call on the U.N. Security Council to consider “the aggression against the sovereignty of Venezuela and of Latin America.”
“Without sovereignty, there is no nation,” Petro wrote on social media.
7:40 a. m. GMT-3
Russia calls US action ‘an act of armed aggression’
By ELISE MORTON
Russia’s Foreign Ministry condemned what it called a U.S. “act of armed aggression” against Venezuela in a statement posted on its Telegram channel Saturday.
“Venezuela must be guaranteed the right to determine its own destiny without any destructive, let alone military, outside intervention,” the statement said.
The ministry called for dialogue to prevent further escalation and said it reaffirmed its “solidarity” with the Venezuelan people and government, adding that Russia supports calls for an emergency U.N. Security Council meeting.
7:39 a. m. GMT-3
State Department urges Americans in Venezuela to shelter in place
By MATTHEW LEE
The State Department issued a new travel alert early Saturday warning Americans in Venezuela urging them to “shelter in place” due to the situation.
“U.S. Embassy Bogota is aware of reports of explosions in and around Caracas, Venezuela,” it said without elaboration.
“The U.S. Embassy in Bogota, Colombia, warns U.S. citizens not to travel to Venezuela. U.S. citizens in Venezuela should shelter in place.” The embassy in Bogota has been shuttered since March, 2019 but operates remotely.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio retweeted Trump’s announcement without comment, but his deputy, Christopher Landau, posted Trump’s statement, adding that it marked “a new dawn for Venezuela!” “The tyrant is gone. He will now—finally—face justice for his crimes,” Landau said.
7:38 a. m. GMT-3
Venezuelan VP demands proof of life for Maduro
Venezuela’s Vice President Delcy Rodríguez says, “We do not know the whereabouts of President Nicolás Maduro and First Lady Cilia Flores.”
He added: “We demand proof of life.”
7:37 a. m. GMT-3
The streets of Caracas
Armed individuals and uniformed members of a civilian militia took to the streets of a Caracas neighborhood long considered a stronghold of the ruling party. But in other areas of the city, the streets remained empty hours after the attack. Parts of the city remained without power, but vehicles moved freely.
Maduro llega a EEUU tras captura en operación que Trump dice permitirá a EEUU “controlar” Venezuela
January 4, 2026
CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — El depuesto líder venezolano Nicolás Maduro llegó a Estados Unidos para enfrentar cargos criminales tras ser capturado en una audaz operación militar nocturna que el presidente Donald Trump dijo que prepararía a Estados Unidos para “dirigir” al país sudamericano y aprovechar sus vastas reservas de petróleo para vender a otras naciones.
Maduro aterrizó el sábado por la noche en un pequeño aeropuerto de Nueva York tras la operación en plena madrugada que lo extrajo a él y a su esposa, Cilia Flores, de su hogar en una base militar en la capital Caracas, un acto que el gobierno de Maduro calificó de “imperialista”. La pareja enfrenta cargos en Estados Unidos por participar en una conspiración de narcoterrorismo.
La acción dramática culminó una intensa campaña de presión de la administración Trump sobre el líder autocrático de Venezuela y meses de planificación secreta, resultando en la acción estadounidense más contundente para lograr un cambio de régimen desde la invasión de Irak en 2003. Expertos legales plantearon preguntas sobre la legalidad de la operación, que se realizó sin la aprobación del Congreso estadounidense. Mientras tanto, la vicepresidenta de Venezuela, Delcy Rodríguez, exigió a Estados Unidos la liberación de Maduro argumentando que él era el líder legítimo y el tribunal supremo de Venezuela la nombró presidenta interina.
Algunos civiles venezolanos y miembros del ejército murieron, dijo Rodríguez, quien no dio un número. Trump indicó que algunas fuerzas estadounidenses resultaron heridas, pero nadie murió.
Hablando con los periodistas horas después de la captura de Maduro, Trump reveló sus planes para explotar el vacío de liderazgo para “arreglar” la infraestructura petrolera del país y vender “grandes cantidades” de petróleo a otros países.
Trump dice que EEUU “dirigirá el país”
La administración Trump promovió la destitución como un paso hacia la reducción del flujo de drogas peligrosas hacia Estados Unidos. El presidente destacó lo que veía como otros beneficios potenciales, incluyendo una participación en el liderazgo del país y un mayor control del petróleo.
Trump afirmó que el gobierno de Estados Unidos ayudaría a liderar el país y ya lo estaba haciendo, aunque no había señales visibles inmediatas de eso. La televisión estatal venezolana transmitió propaganda a favor de Maduro y emitió imágenes en vivo de simpatizantes tomando las calles de Caracas en protesta.
“Vamos a dirigir el país hasta que podamos hacer una transición segura, adecuada y juiciosa”, dijo Trump en una conferencia de prensa en Mar-a-Lago. Presumió que esta “operación extremadamente exitosa debería servir como advertencia para cualquiera que amenace la soberanía estadounidense o ponga en peligro vidas estadounidenses”.
Maduro y otros funcionarios venezolanos fueron acusados en 2020 de cargos de conspiración de narcoterrorismo, y el Departamento de Justicia emitió una nueva acusación el sábado contra Maduro y su esposa que pintaba a su administración como un “gobierno corrupto e ilegítimo” alimentado por una operación de tráfico de drogas que inundó a Estados Unidos con cocaína. Washington no reconoce a Maduro como el líder de Venezuela.
La administración Trump pasó meses acumulando fuerzas estadounidenses en la región y llevando a cabo ataques a barcos en el mar Caribe y el océano Pacífico oriental por supuestamente transportar drogas. La semana pasada, la CIA estuvo detrás de un ataque con drones en un área de atraque que se creía utilizada por cárteles de drogas venezolanos, la primera operación directa conocida en suelo venezolano desde que comenzó la campaña estadounidense en septiembre.
Ataque en la madrugada
36 años después del día de la rendición y captura del líder panameño Manuel Antonio Noriega tras una invasión estadounidense en 1990, la operación en Venezuela se desarrolló bajo la oscuridad de la madrugada del sábado. Trump dijo que Estados Unidos apagó “casi todas las luces” en Caracas mientras las fuerzas se movían para extraer a Maduro y su esposa.
El general Dan Caine, presidente del Estado Mayor Conjunto, dijo que las fuerzas estadounidenses ensayaron sus maniobras durante meses, aprendiendo todo sobre Maduro: dónde estaba y qué comía, así como detalles de sus mascotas y su ropa.
“Pensamos, desarrollamos, entrenamos, ensayamos, informamos, ensayamos una y otra vez”, señaló Caine. “No para hacerlo bien, sino para asegurarnos de no hacerlo mal”.
Múltiples explosiones resonaron esa mañana, y aviones volaron a baja altura sobre Caracas. El gobierno de Maduro acusó a Estados Unidos de atacar instalaciones civiles y militares, calificándolo de “ataque imperialista” y exhortando a los ciudadanos a tomar las calles. Las explosiones, al menos siete, hicieron que la gente saliera corriendo a las calles, mientras otros acudían a las redes sociales para informar lo que veían y escuchaban.
Según la ley venezolana, Rodríguez asumirá el cargo de Maduro. Sin embargo, Rodríguez enfatizó durante una aparición el sábado en la televisión estatal que no planeaba asumir el poder, antes de que el Tribunal Supremo de Venezuela ordenara que se convirtiera en presidenta interina.
“Hay un solo presidente en este país, que se llama Nicolás Maduro Moros”, dijo Rodríguez.
Algunas calles en Caracas se llenan
El partido gobernante de Venezuela ha mantenido el poder desde 1999, cuando el predecesor de Maduro, Hugo Chávez, asumió el cargo, prometiendo elevar a los pobres y luego implementar una revolución socialista autodenominada.
Maduro asumió el cargo cuando Chávez murió en 2013. Su reelección en 2018 fue ampliamente considerada un fraude porque a los principales partidos de oposición se les prohibió participar. En las elecciones de 2024, las autoridades electorales leales al partido gobernante lo declararon ganador horas después de que cerraran las urnas, pero la oposición reunió pruebas abrumadoras de que perdió por un margen de más de 2 a 1.
En una demostración de lo polarizante que es Maduro, la gente salió a las calles para protestar por su captura, mientras que otros la celebraron. En una protesta en la capital venezolana, Caracas, la alcaldesa Carmen Meléndez se unió a una multitud que exigía el regreso de Maduro.
“¡Maduro, aguanta, que el pueblo se levanta!”, coreaba la multitud. “¡Estamos aquí, Nicolás Maduro! ¡Si puedes escucharnos, estamos aquí!”.
En otras partes de la ciudad, las calles estaban vacías horas después del ataque.
“¿Cómo me siento? Asustado, como todos”, dijo el caraqueño Noris Prada, quien se sentó en una avenida vacía mirando su teléfono. “Los venezolanos se despertaron asustados. Muchas familias no pudieron dormir”.
En Doral, Florida, hogar de la comunidad venezolana más grande en Estados Unidos, la gente se envolvió en banderas venezolanas, comió bocadillos fritos y vitoreó mientras sonaba la música. En un momento, la multitud coreó “¡Libertad! ¡Libertad! ¡Libertad!”.
Persisten dudas sobre la legalidad
Si Estados Unidos violó alguna ley, internacional o de otro tipo, seguía siendo una pregunta el domingo temprano. “Hay una serie de conceptos legales internacionales que Estados Unidos podría haber violado al capturar a Maduro”, dijo Ilan Katz, analista de derecho internacional.
En Nueva York, el Consejo de Seguridad de la ONU, actuando a petición de emergencia de Colombia, planeaba llevar a cabo el lunes por la mañana una reunión sobre las operaciones estadounidenses en Venezuela, dijo un diplomático del consejo que habló bajo condición de anonimato porque la reunión aún no se había hecho pública.
Legisladores de ambos partidos políticos estadounidenses han expresado reservas y objeciones rotundas a los ataques de Estados Unidos a barcos sospechosos de contrabando de drogas. El Congreso no ha aprobado una autorización para el uso de la fuerza militar para tales operaciones en la región.
El legislador de Connecticut Jim Himes, el principal demócrata en la Comisión de Inteligencia de la Cámara de Representantes, dijo que no había visto evidencia que justificara que Trump atacara a Venezuela sin la aprobación del Congreso y exigió una sesión informativa inmediata por parte de la administración sobre “su plan para garantizar la estabilidad en la región y su justificación legal para esta decisión”.
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Toropin y Tucker informaron desde Washington. Los periodistas de The Associated Press Jorge Rueda en Caracas; Lisa Mascaro, Michelle L. Price, Seung Min Kim y Alanna Durkin Richer en Washington; Farnoush Amiri en Nueva York; y Larry Neumeister en South Amboy, Nueva Jersey, contribuyeron a este informe.
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Esta historia fue traducida del inglés por un editor de AP con la ayuda de una herramienta de inteligencia artificial generativa.
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