U.S. launches 'large-scale strike' on Venezuela: What we know so far

U.S. President Donald Trump said Saturday in a Truth Social post that Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife were captured and flown out of Venezuela. Trump confirmed that the United States launched "a large scale strike against Venezuela and its leader, President Nicolas Maduro." "There will be a News Conference today at 11 a.m., at Mar-a-Lago," Trump added.

- The ⁠Venezuelan government ​does ​not know the whereabouts ⁠of ‌President Nicolas ​Maduro or ‌his wife Cilia Flores, ‍Vice President Delcy Rodriguez said on ‍Saturday morning in an audio played on state ‍TV. "We ‍demand ‍immediate proof ‍of ⁠life of President ​Nicolas Maduro and the first ‌combatant Cilia Flores," Rodriguez said.

-  Venezuela on Saturday denounced a "military aggression" by the United States, after large explosions were heard and aircraft were seen over the capital Caracas earlier in the day. The Venezuelan government said that the military strike targeted civilian and military sites in at least four states of the country, including Caracas, as well as the states of Miranda, Aragua and La Guaira, adding that the U.S. action blatantly violated the UN Charter.

- In the statement, the Venezuelan government said that President Nicolas Maduro had "ordered all national defense plans to be implemented" and declared "a state of external disturbance."

- The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration on early Saturday morning barred U.S. aircraft from flying at any altitude within Venezuelan airspace following reports of explosions in Caracas, citing "safety-of-flight risks associated with ongoing military activity."