We're seeing more photographs of the US strikes on Venezuela that took place earlier.

Here is one of them:

Image source, AFP via Getty Images

Image source, Reuters

United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio anticipates no further action against Venezuela following the capture of Nicolás Maduro, says a Republican senator.

Mike Lee confirmed Venezuelan President Maduro's arrest, to stand trial on criminal charges in the US, following a phone call with Rubio.

"He [Rubio] anticipates no further action in Venezuela now that Maduro is in US custody," says Senator Lee.

Lee adds that the US strikes were "deployed to protect and defend those executing the arrest warrant".

Earlier, Lee said in a post on X: "I look forward to learning what, if anything, might constitutionally justify this action in the absence of a declaration of war or authorization for the use of military force."

This is an event without modern precedentpublished at 10:42 GMT

10:42 GMT

published at 19:42

19:42

Joe Inwood
World affairs correspondent

If, as claimed, the US has sent Delta Force into the heart of the Venezuelan capital and extracted the sitting president, along with his wife, it is unlike anything we have seen before.

The closest comparison would be the capture of Panamanian leader Manuel Noriega, also by special forces, in 1989.

Both men had recently claimed victory in disputed elections, both had been accused by the US of involvement in drug trafficking and both had been preceded by significant US military build-up.

But Noriega's capture followed a short, decisive, war between the two countries, in which Panamanian forces were quickly overwhelmed.

He had taken refuge in the Vatican embassy, where he remained for 11 days.

Eventually Noriega was persuaded to leave after the use of “psychological warfare” - specifically the constant playing of loud rock music, including The Clash, Van Halen and U2.

He was taken back to the US, where he was convicted of drugs offences.

Details of the operation to capture Nicholas Maduro are yet to emerge, but it seems to have been an operation even more ambitious in its scope - succeeding in extracting the President and his wife without the use of conventional ground forces.

His fate is unclear, but one would imagine it will end in a US prison.

If Maduro is indeed gone, it's unclear what happens nextpublished at 10:37 GMT

10:37 GMT

published at 19:37

19:37

Ione Wells
South America correspondent

The US has not made such a direct intervention in Latin America since it invaded Panama in 1989 to depose the then-military leader Manuel Noriega.

If Maduro has been forcibly removed from Venezuela, as Trump says, this will be seen as a huge win among some of the more hawkish figures in the US administration - some of whom have openly supported regime change.

The US has accused Maduro of leading a criminal narco-trafficking organisation, something he denies.

It also does not recognise him as the legitimate president of Venezuela after the 2024 elections were widely dismissed as neither free nor fair.

For its part, Venezuela has accused the US of wanting to steal its lucrative oil reserves - which are thought to be the biggest in the world.

What is really unclear is what happens now in Venezuela itself if Maduro is indeed gone.

Supporters of US intervention have argued it would pave the way for the Venezuelan opposition to take over, led by Nobel Peace Prize winner Maria Corina Machado or the opposition candidate from 2024, Edmundo Gonzalez.

However, others believe it would by no means be that simple.

The military and paramilitaries in Venezuela had remained loyal to Maduro, and even some critics of Maduro had feared that direct US intervention could lead to further destabilisation in the country.

There will certainly be other close allies of him fearing for their own futures after the news of Maduro’s capture.

Image source, Reuters

Earlier, our correspondent Ione Wells brought you an update from Venezuela's defence minister, we can now bring you more.

Venezuela’s Defence Minister has announced an immediate deployment of military forces across the country.

Speaking in Spanish in a video address, Vladimir Padrino López called for a united front of resistance in the face of "the worst aggression" ever against Venezuela, adding that Venezuela was following “Maduro’s orders” that all armed forces will be deployed.

"They've attacked us but they will not subdue us," says the defence minister.

We’ve just heard from Venezuela’s Vice President Delcy Rodríguez.

She says the government does not know the whereabouts of President Maduro or the First Lady Cilia Flores.

She added that the government demanded “immediate proof of life” for them both.

Ione Wells
South America correspondent

There are still lots of unknowns about this morning’s strikes.

What damage was done to the military infrastructure hit? And what casualties are there?

Venezuela’s defence minister Vladimir Padrino has said that the government is compiling information about the dead and injured people and alleged that the strikes hit civilian areas.

He added that Venezuela will “resist” the presence of foreign troops.

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro was captured by the US army's Delta Force, officials tell the BBC's US partner CBS News.

Delta Force is the US military's top counter terrorism unit.

Details of Maduro's capture remain thinpublished at 09:41 GMT

09:41 GMT

published at 18:41

18:41

Ione Wells
South America correspondent

The US has long accused Nicolás Maduro of leading an international drug trafficking organisation, something that Maduro denies.

Trump did not give more detail about how Maduro was captured or where he has been taken.

The Venezuelan government have not yet confirmed this.

The US had offered a $50m reward for information leading to the arrest of Maduro.

That, along with the huge military build-up in the region over the last few months, were interpreted in the region as encouragement for someone inside the country to turn against him.

Donald Trump adds on Truth Social that there will be a news conference at 11:00 EST (16:00 GMT), at the president's Florida residence Mar-a-Lago.

Image source, Reuters

President Donald Trump says the US has carried out a "large scale strike against Venezuela" and "captured its leader, President Nicolas Maduro" and his wife.

Here's the statement from Truth Social in full:

"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 this matter! President DONALD J. TRUMP."

A significant ramp up - how did we get here?published at 09:08 GMT

09:08 GMT

published at 18:08

18:08

Will Grant
Central America and Cuba correspondent

This is the biggest US military build-up in the Americas since the Cold War – it’s huge.

How did we get here?

• First, there were airstrikes on speed boats allegedly carrying drugs through Venezuelan waters
• This has extended into the eastern Caribbean, Pacific and elsewhere – 110 have been killed so far
• US forces have confiscated two sanctioned oil tankers, and a third is being pursued
• Over Christmas, Trump made reference to the first land strike.
• We have very few details about that, although the BBC is looking into witness statements and it is believed to have taken place in Zulia, which is an oil-rich state

So, what are the potential consequences?

We know so far that there’s been a special communique – or statement – from the Venezuelan government, which repudiates actions which it blames immediately on the US government.

It also calls the government’s social supporters to action across the length and breadth of the country – that’s militias and grass roots organisations.

To an extent, Maduro is doing what one would expect – appealing to his socialist base.

There’s very little he can actually do at this point, because we're waiting for more details to emerge.

But it does appear that this is a significant ramping up of a situation that has been building for months.

Charlotte Hadfield
Live reporter

If you're just joining us, here's the latest:

• US President Donald Trump has ordered strikes on sites in Venezuela, including the capital Caracas and military facilities, US officials tell the BBC's US partner CBS News - the White House is yet to respond

• Venezuela rejects and denounces the "military aggression" as President Maduro declares a national emergency

• Footage shows fire and smoke rising above the Venezuelan capital
• "My heart was pumping and legs were shaking," an eyewitness tells the BBC
• The developments come at a moment of heightened tension between the US and Venezuela, writes our correspondent Will Grant

Ione Wells
South America correspondent

Journalist Vanessa Silva, who lives in Caracas, saw an explosion from her window.

She said the sound of the explosion was huge and “stronger than thunder”, causing her home to vibrate.

Caracas is a valley, so the sound echoed around the city.

“My heart was pumping and legs were shaking,” she said, saying she was scared by how close the explosions were but that they did seem very precise.

She said there is now silence in the city but everyone is still frantically messaging each other to see if they are okay.

A relative of hers saw something falling from the sky and ten seconds later saw and heard a boom.

On Thursday, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro said he was open to talks with the US on drug trafficking and oil "wherever and whenever they want".

In the interview with Venezuelan state TV, Maduro also avoided responding to a statement by US President Donald Trump that the US had hit a docking facility in Venezuela - marking the first such attack inside the country reportedly carried out by the CIA.

A few days before Maduro's interview, Trump said the US carried out a strike on a "dock area" linked to alleged Venezuelan drug boats, adding there had been a "major explosion" where "they load the boats up with drugs".

It follows weeks of Trump's ramped up pressure on Maduro, who he accuses of "emptying his prisons and insane asylums" and "forcing" its inmates to migrate to the US - along with using oil money to fund drug-related crime.

Since September, the US has launched 30 strikes on what it says are drug-smuggling boats, targeting vessels in the Pacific and the Caribbean.

More than 110 people have been killed since the US carried out its first attack on a boat in international waters on 2 September.

How rattled will people in Venezuela be following strikes?published at 08:35 GMT

08:35 GMT

published at 17:35

17:35

Will Grant
Central America and Cuba correspondent

Very, I think.

I have been speaking to Venezuelan journalists who are concerned for themselves and their families.

I spoke to one colleague via video, who kept the lights out. She lives quite close to La Carlota, which is a military airstrip in the very centre of Caracas. She could see what was unfolding from her window.

As she contacted me with updates, she was also receiving similar images from friends and family and across social media, backing up what she was seeing but in other parts of the city.

The sense of a co-ordinated event was very acute. You can imagine how frightening that is for ordinary people – whether they agree with Maduro or oppose him.

Caracas, officially known as Santiago de León de Caracas, is the capital, and largest city, of Venezuela.

The city is located within the Cardillera de la Costa mountain range in the nothern part of Venezuela, near to the Caribbean Sea.

We can bring you more now from the Venezuelan government's statement, which our correspondent Will Grant has also taken a look at - see our previous post.

The statement says the strikes in Caracas aim to "seize Venezuela's strategic resources, particularly its oil and minerals" and "forcibly break the nation's political independence".

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has "signed and ordered the implementation of the Decree declaring a state of external commotion throughout the national territory".

He has also ordered all national defense plans to be implemented "at the appropriate time and under the appropriate circumstances".

They have urged "all social and political forces in the country to activate mobilization plans and condemn this imperialist attack".

Will Grant
Central America and Cuba correspondent

The Venezuelan President has declared a national emergency, and has denounced the attacks as an attempt by the US to take his country's oil and minerals.