US strikes on Venezuela highlights: Maduro in New York jail; North Korea calls US's Venezuela action ‘high-handed’

US transportation secretary Sean Duffy has said that the original restrictions around the Caribbean airspace are ending at 12:00 am ET, adding that flights can resume after that in the region.

Airlines are informed, and will update their schedules quickly, Duffy added, Reuters reported.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said that his government is monitoring the developments in Venezuela in the wake of the capture of Nicolas Maduro and his wife from Caracas.

In a post on X, Albanese said, "We urge all parties to support dialogue and diplomacy in order to secure regional stability and prevent escalation."

"Australia has long held concerns about the situation in Venezuela, including the need to respect democratic principles, human rights and fundamental freedoms. We continue to support international law and a peaceful, democratic transition in Venezuela that reflects the will of the Venezuelan people," he added.

He also issued assistance details for Australians in Venezuela.

New satellite images captured by Vantor showed the damage caused to a number of buildings at the Fuerte Tiuna military complex in Venezuela after US strikes on Saturday morning.

The before and after images provide a bird's eye comparison of the Fuerte Tiuna complex in the capital Caracas on December 22 and today.

According to an indictment made public on Saturday, Nicolas Maduro is charged along with his wife, his son and three others.

Maduro is reportedly indicted on four counts: narco-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine importation conspiracy, possession of machine guns and destructive devices and conspiracy to possess machine guns and destructive devices.

Authorities alleged that powerful and violent drug trafficking groups like the Sinaloa Cartel and Tren de Aragua gang worked directly with the Venezuelan government and then sent profits to high-ranking officials who helped and protected them in exchange.

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said in an interview with CBS News on Saturday night that President Trump gave the US forces a clear mission and they finished it.

He hailed the troops and said, "I saw the best of America, I saw men and women dedicating their lives to defending our country and to accomplish in that mission."

On what happens next in Venezuela, Hegseth said, "We set the terms."

"President Trump has shown American leadership, and he will be able to dictate where we go next," he added.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said that the UK has long supported a transition of power in Venezuela. He said that Britain has regarded Maduro as an illegitimate President, adding that the country sheds "no tears about the end of his regime".

"I reiterated my support for international law this morning. The UK government will discuss the evolving situation with US counterparts in the days ahead as we seek a safe and peaceful transition to a legitimate government that reflects the will of the Venezuelan people," he wrote on X.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Saturday that the UK was not involved in the US military operation in Venezuela, which led to the capture of President Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores.

In a post on X, Starmer emphasised that his priority is ensuring the safety of around 500 British nationals in Venezuela, with the embassy in Caracas providing assistance.

"It's obviously a fast-moving situation. We need to establish all the facts. I can confirm that the UK was not involved in this operation. As you expect, we're focusing on British nationals in Venezuela and working very closely with our embassy. I want to speak with the President and allies, but for now, I think we need to establish the facts," he said in a video posted on X.

The US has released the first visuals of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro being "perp walked" inside the DEA headquarters in New York City, a short while after he and his wife were brought to the city from Venezuela.

The Constitutional Chamber of Venezuela's Supreme Court ordered on Saturday that Vice President Delcy Rodriguez assume the role of acting president of the country, hours after Nicolas Maduro was captured in an overnight US military operation.

The court ruling said that Rodriguez would assume "the office of President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, in order to guarantee administrative continuity and the comprehensive defense of the Nation."

The ruling further said that the court will debate the matter in order to "determine the applicable legal framework to guarantee the continuity of the State, the administration of government, and the defense of sovereignty in the face of the forced absence of the President of the Republic."

The motorcade, believed to be carrying Nicolas Maduro, left the DEA headquarters and headed north on Manhattan's Westside Highway before returning to the heliport, BBC reported.

It is reportedly understood that Maduro and his wife then reboarded a helicopter to be taken to the Metropolitan Detention Centre in Brooklyn.

Three helicopters travelled down the Hudson River, passing the Statue of Liberty in New York Harbour, the report added.

Venezuelan foreign minister Yvan Gil told Russia's RIA state news agency on Sunday that peace in Latin America was disrupted by a US attack on Venezuela.

“Peace in Latin America was disrupted by this action,” RIA cited Gill as saying after US President Donald Trump said that the US struck the Latin American nation and captured President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, and took them out of the country.

The United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has expressed concerns over the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, and the prevailing situation in the Latin American nation following an overnight US military strike.

A statement from Guterres' spokesperson said, "The Secretary-General is deeply alarmed by the recent escalation in Venezuela, culminating with today’s United States military action in the country, which has potential worrying implications for the region."

"Independently of the situation in Venezuela, these developments constitute a dangerous precedent. 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," he added.

"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," the spokesperson said.

The Russian foreign ministry urged the US to release captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, calling them the "legitimately elected leaders", and pressing on the need to resolve issues through dialogue.

In a post on X, the Russian MFA said, "In view of the confirmed reports about Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his spouse being in the United States, we strongly urge the US leadership to reconsider their position and release the legitimately elected president of a sovereign country and his spouse."

"We highlight the need to create conditions for resolving any existing issues between the United States and Venezuela through dialogue," it added.

NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani termed the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife an "act of war" and a "violation of federal and international law", while talking about President Trump's plans to imprison the two in federal custody in New York City.

"This blatant pursuit of regime change doesn’t just affect those abroad, it directly impacts New Yorkers, including tens of thousands of Venezuelans who call this city home. My focus is their safety and the safety of every New Yorker, and my administration will continue to monitor the situation and issue relevant guidance," he said in a post on X.

US strikes on Venezuela LIVE: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has warned Cuba's leaders and said that "I'd be concerned" following the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife.

He said Cuba was in complete collapse, and noted that Maduro's guards and the entire intelligence agency were largely composed of Cubans.

“Cuba is a disaster. It's run by incompetent, senile men and, in some cases, not seen now, but incompetent nonetheless. It has no economy. It's in total collapse. All of the guards that helped protect Maduro, this is well known, their whole spy agency, all of whom were full of Cubans,” he said in a press conference.

"This poor island took over Venezuela in some cases. One of the biggest problems that Venezuelans have is that they have to declare independence from Cuba. They tried to basically colonise it from a security standpoint. If I lived in Havana and I was in the government, I'd be concerned at least a little bit," the top US diplomat added further.

US strikes on Venezuela LIVE: US President Donald Trump on Saturday warned Colombian President Gustavo Petro to “watch his ass” following a US military operation that captured Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro, escalating tensions across the region.

“He's making cocaine and they're sending it into the United States, so he does have to watch his ass,” Trump said at a press conference, referring to Petro, with whom he has sparred repeatedly in recent months.

Colombian President Gustavo Petro strongly criticised Washington’s actions, describing the Trump administration's operation as an “assault on the sovereignty” of Latin America that could trigger a humanitarian crisis.

US strikes on Venezuela LIVE: US President Donald Trump said on Saturday that many Cubans were killed when US forces attacked Venezuela and captured President Nicolás Maduro, AFP reported.

Cuba and Venezuela are close allies, sharing a communist ideology and having jointly endured US economic sanctions. For decades, Cuba has relied heavily on Caracas for economic support and fuel.

In the lead-up to the pre-dawn US operation, US media reports said Maduro depended heavily on Cuban advisers and bodyguards. Neither Venezuela nor the United States has released an official death toll from the attack, though Trump said no Americans were killed.

US strikes on Venezuela LIVE: A plane carrying Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro landed just before 5 pm local time at Stewart Airport in New York, Bloomberg reported, citing a person familiar with the matter who requested anonymity. From there, Maduro will be transported to New York City.

US President Donald Trump said Maduro and his wife were traveling via ship and plane to face an indictment on alleged drug trafficking, weapons, and conspiracy charges.

Reuters also said a plane carrying the captured Venezuelan leader landed on US soil, citing MS Now.

US strikes on Venezuela LIVE: A person in shackles was seen being led off the plane that transported Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro to New York, CBS News reported.

The individual’s identity has not been confirmed, though Maduro and his wife were also on the flight.

US strikes on Venezuela LIVE: As President Donald Trump spent his Friday morning posting on social media about his health and rambling about wind turbines, a “large-scale” US military operation against Venezuela was already in its final stages. Though Trump had warned for months that the US could strike Venezuela, he gave little public indication on Friday that the operation was imminent.

According to US officials, the operation dubbed as “Absolute Resolve”, had been planned and rehearsed for months. Once launched, it unfolded in under 30 minutes and ended Nicolás Maduro’s rule within hours. Read More

US strikes on Venezuela LIVE: The US military operation that captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and flew him out of the country early Saturday has disrupted holiday travel across the Caribbean, AP reported.

According to FlightRadar24.com cited by the news agency, no airline flights were crossing over Venezuela on Saturday. Major airlines canceled hundreds of flights across the eastern Caribbean and warned passengers that disruptions could continue for days after the Federal Aviation Administration imposed airspace restrictions.

US strikes on Venezuela LIVE: A plane carrying Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has arrived in New York, MS Now reported, according to Reuters.

US strikes on Venezuela LIVE: Venezuelan leader Delcy Rodríguez sought to project strength and unity within the ruling party, playing down any suggestion of betrayal following the US operation.

Speaking on state television, she demanded the immediate release of Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, and denounced the US action as a violation of the United Nations charter.

“There is only one president in this country, and his name is Nicolás Maduro," Rodríguez said, flanked by senior civilian officials and military commanders, reported AP.

There was no immediate indication that the United States was running Venezuela.

US strikes on Venezuela LIVE: The United Nations Security Council is set to meet on Monday following the US attack on Venezuela and the removal of long-serving President Nicolás Maduro, reported Reuters. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has described the move as setting “a dangerous precedent.”

Colombia, backed by Russia and China, requested the meeting of the 15-member council, diplomats said. The Security Council has already met twice, in October and December, amid escalating tensions between the United States and Venezuela.

US strikes on Venezuela LIVE: Venezuelans who fled years of economic ruin and political repression under Nicolás Maduro poured into streets across the world on Saturday, celebrating what they described as the strongman’s removal by US forces. Members of the diaspora, estimated at nearly eight million, gathered in large numbers in major cities to mark the moment.

In Santiago, Chile, thousands filled the capital’s streets, waving Venezuelan flags and draped in the national colours of yellow, blue and red as celebrations unfolded.

“At last we’ll be able to go back home,” street vendor Yurimar Rojas told AFP, raising his voice above the jubilant crowd. “At last we’re going to have a free country,” he added.