President Trump said early Saturday that U.S. forces had carried out a “large-scale strike against Venezuela” and had captured President Nicolás Maduro and his wife,

who he said were being flown out of the country. Mr. Trump announced he would address the operation at a news conference later in the morning from Mar-a-Lago.

The Venezuelan government accused the United States of launching military attacks in Caracas and several nearby states after large explosions were reported at a military base in the capital. Venezuela’s communications ministry said President Maduro declared a state of emergency and condemned what it called U.S. military aggression, urging political and social groups to mobilize against the attack.

In a national address, Venezuela’s defense minister, Gen. Vladimir Padrino López, denounced the operation as an invasion and described it as the most serious assault the country had faced in decades. His remarks marked the first public appearance by a senior Venezuelan official since the explosions began.

The confrontation followed months of escalating pressure from Washington. The Trump administration has repeatedly accused Mr. Maduro of leading a “narco-terrorist” state and has sought his removal, calling his rule illegitimate. Mr. Maduro has denied the allegations.

Since late summer, the United States has sharply increased its military presence in the Caribbean, deploying troops, aircraft and naval vessels. U.S. forces have also targeted vessels accused of drug smuggling and taken actions against tankers carrying Venezuelan oil, disrupting the country’s primary source of revenue.

U.S. intelligence agencies have previously been authorized to conduct covert and lethal operations in Venezuela, according to American officials. Critics have questioned the legality of recent strikes, while the administration has argued they are justified under the laws of war.

Despite possessing advanced weaponry from Russia, Iran and China, Venezuela’s military is widely seen by analysts as weakened by poor maintenance, limited training and defections. Mr. Maduro had reportedly tightened his personal security in recent months, frequently changing locations and communications to avoid a targeted attack.

The situation remains fluid as both governments issue competing claims about the scope and consequences of the operation. Photo by Kremlin.ru, Wikimedia commons.