Maduro charged in US with ‘narco-terrorism conspiracy’: Live Updates

RT’s reporter in Caracas cited troop carrier helicopters and jets as multiple explosions ripped through the Venezuelan capital

US President Donald Trump has confirmed his forces carried out large-scale airstrikes on Venezuela, and claimed that the oil-rich South-American country's leader, Nicolas Maduro, has been captured and flown out of the country.

Venezuelan Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello Rondon has told the country's troops to “trust the leadership,” while Foreign Minister Yvan Gil has accused Washington of seeking to gain control of the Latin American nation’s natural resources.

Numerous videos have emerged of a series of heavy explosions across the Venezuelan capital, Caracas. Footage showing attacks in two other parts of the country has also been geolocated. One clip from features the outline of several US Chinook military helicopters swooping across the city at low altitude.

In a statement, Moscow has condemned the US “aggression,” called for “immediate clarification” on President Maduro's whereabouts and lamented that “Ideological hostility has triumphed over businesslike pragmatism.”

American Senator Mike Lee (Rep:Utah) announced on his personal X account that Secretary of State Marco Rubio had told him that Washington does not foresee any further military operations at this time and that the Venezuelan president will stand trial in the US.

Multiple Western countries have expressed “concern” and claimed they are monitoring developments with their diplomatic teams in the Venezuelan capital.