Nicolás Maduro and Wife Seized in Delta Force Raid While Asleep

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were reportedly taken from their bedroom while they slept during a U.S. military operation that led to their apprehension. This development was revealed by CNN, citing two sources with knowledge of the mission.

According to journalist Kevin Liptak, the operation unfolded in the early hours when an elite unit from the U.S. Army, the Delta Force, stormed the residence where the Venezuelan leader was staying.

The sources indicated that the couple was caught off guard in their bedroom and detained without any casualties among the U.S. forces.

This mission was part of a large-scale military action authorized by President Donald Trump to capture the Chavista leader, who has been accused by the Department of Justice of narco-terrorism, drug trafficking, and possession of military-grade weapons.

Previous reports from The New York Times suggested that the CIA tracked Maduro's movements through a combination of drone surveillance and an insider within his circle.

While the White House has yet to provide official details, Trump is expected to expand on the information during a press conference at Mar-a-Lago, his Florida estate.

In Caracas, the Venezuelan government has acknowledged that "the president's whereabouts are unknown" and continues to uphold a state of emergency following airstrikes on military facilities like Fuerte Tiuna and La Carlota.

Maduro's capture signifies the culmination of a crisis that had been brewing for months and delivers an unprecedented blow to Chavismo and its closest ally, Cuba, which had exerted considerable control over Venezuela's security and intelligence apparatus.