US President Donald Trump made a stunning claim that the US "will run" Venezuela until a "proper and judicious" transition was in effect.

Hours after he was captured by the US forces in an audacious military operation, President Donald Trump posted a picture of the handcuffed and blindfolded Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro on his Truth Social.

Multiple explosions heard in Venezuela LIVE Updates: The United States on Sunday confirmed that it conducted strikes inside Venezuela moments after several explosions were heard in the capital Caracas and other parts of the country.

Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado said on Saturday that the "hour of freedom" had arrived for her country after President Nicolas Maduro was captured by the US forces.

Praising his troops again for successfully capturing Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, US President Donald Trump has said no American lives were lost during the operation.

China said on Saturday it firmly opposes US military strikes on Venezuela and the capture of the country's leader Nicolas Maduro, calling it a violation of international law.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni defended the US military action in Venezuela on Saturday, calling it legitimate 'defence', even as she said outside military force should not be used for regime change.

US President Donald Trump announced today that Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro had been captured by US forces in a covert operation, removed from Venezuelan territory, and was now aboard an American warship en route to New York to face prosecution.

The United States hit Venezuela with a "large-scale strike" early Saturday and said President Nicolas Maduro had been captured and flown out of the country after months of stepped-up pressure by Washington

US Vice President JD Vance said Saturday that Venezuela ignored offers to reach a settlement, adding that captured leader Nicolas Maduro was the "newest person to find out that President Trump means what he says."

President Donald Trump had long threatened that he could order military strikes on targets on Venezuelan territory after months of attacks on boats accused of carrying drugs from the South American country.

Russia condemned the US military action in Venezuela on Saturday and demanded "immediate" clarification about what happened to Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro, who US President Donald Trump said was captured by US forces.

US Attorney General Pam Bondi says deposed Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, will face criminal charges after an indictment in New York.

The United States launched what President Donald Trump described as 'large-scale strikes against Venezuela' on Saturday, an action that was said to be carried out "in conjunction with US law enforcement".

A golden retriever fell into a frozen pond in Rhode Island and was rescued by a firefighter with the video of the incident going viral.

In an interview aired on Thursday, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro had extended an olive branch to the US and President Donald Trump, offering to address concerns on drug trafficking and access to Venezuelan oil.

The United States, which on Saturday attacked Venezuela and is said to have abducted its president, has a long history of military interventions and support for dictatorships in Latin America.

Maduro was born into a working-class family on November 23, 1962, son of a trade union leader. He worked as a bus driver during the time army officer Hugo Chavez led a failed coup attempt in 1992.

The US has carried out a major military operation in Venezuela, with President Donald Trump confirming that his counterpart, Nicolas Maduro, and his wife, Cilia Flores, were captured and flown out of the country.

Donald Trump returned to office vowing to be the peace president. Nearly a year later, he is embracing war on multiple fronts.