U.S. President Donald Trump insisted there would be a military strike on Venezuela’s mainland and that was the case last night with civilians running for their lives and the Venezuelan military caught out flat-footed and unable to respond.

According to reports, it was chaos with Venezuelans pleading for their lives and parts of the country consumed by towering infernos.

For the last few months, President Trump has insisted that Maduro should step down as President of Venezuela and that under his regime, the country is a narco-state.  A US$50 million bounty was placed on his head. He also said the country’s vast oil and gas reserves belong to the United States.

Caribbean countries, including Jamaica, have not sided with Venezuela with Trinidad & Tobago actively helping the United States with the twin island republic serving as a base of operations.

President Trump, taking to Truth Social wrote: “The United States of America has successfully carried out a large-scale strike against Venezuela and its leader, President Nicolas Maduro, who has been along with his wife, captured and flown out of the country. This operation was done in conjunction with U.S. Law Enforcement. Details to follow. There will be a news conference today at 11 A.M. at Mar-a-Lago. Thank you for your attention to the matter.”

 U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Maduro has been arrested by U.S. personnel to stand trial on criminal charges in the United States.

By all accounts, the military operation went smoothly with little resistance and locals going into panic. The Venezuelan military did not put up a fight.

If Maduro is indeed captured, it will not be too long before a new government is installed and the country has a new President, perhaps, Nobel laureate Maria Corina Machado.

Speaking on the situation in Venezuela, she said last year, “ I am absolutely grateful to President Donald Trump for every gesture, every signal and every moment that he has stood with the Venezuelan people. I have watched it very closely and I know what it has meant for those who are fighting to reclaim democracy and freedom in our country.” 

With Maduro gone, she doesn’t believe the country will take to the streets with civil disorder breaking out. She says 70 per cent of the country want Maduro gone and a new government put in place that can restore the economy and make the cost of living better.

The Venezuelan Government wants to see proof that Maduro has been captured by U.S. military forces. It put out a statement which read: “People to the streets. The Bolivarian Government calls on all social and political forces in the country to activate mobilisation plans and repudiate this imperialist attack.”