On January 3, 2026 (Tashkent time), U.S. President Donald Trump issued an official statement announcing that Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro had been captured. According to major international media outlets, the incident was the result of a carefully pre-planned special operation, with the mission assigned to the U.S. Army’s elite Delta Force unit. This was reported by upl.uzreports.
Amid reports of Maduro’s detention, rumors also spread that some senior officials from his inner circle had been killed. Early reports even claimed that Venezuela’s defense minister was eliminated in a clash with U.S. special forces, but these claims were soon questioned.
Shortly afterward, Venezuela’s defense minister contacted the public directly, stating that he was alive and continuing his duties. In a sharply worded statement toward Washington, he emphasized that the armed forces had been fully mobilized and were ready for long-term resistance.
For now, the situation in the region remains extremely tense. Washington has not provided additional evidence confirming that Maduro has in fact been physically captured, while the Venezuelan side is demonstrating readiness for a large-scale defensive war.
Media reports suggest Maduro may be on U.S. soil, but the exact location where he is being held has not been disclosed. The “Delta” unit mentioned in the reports (1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta), established in 1977, went unacknowledged officially for many years, and its current operations remain among the most closely guarded state secrets.
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