# US military operation and capture of Nicolás Maduro > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/us-military-operation-and-capture-of-nicols-maduro > Updated: 2026-09-17T08:30:00.000Z. Sources: 5. Developments: 2. In late 2025, intelligence reports indicated that Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro dismissed military warnings regarding a potential United States operation. According to documents cited by Infobae, Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López recommended increasing military operational levels and suspending holiday leave during a high-level meeting on December 28, 2025. Maduro and other political figures reportedly downplayed the threat, with Maduro expressing surprise at the recommendation after receiving unofficial assurances that the United States would not target Venezuelan institutions or his family. On January 3, 2026, the United States conducted a military operation in Venezuela that resulted in the capture of Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. Following the intervention, Donald Trump indicated that the United States government would administer Venezuela during a transition period. The operation drew international condemnation and raised concerns within the United Nations regarding the precedent established by the action. ## Timeline ### 2026-09-17: US military operation in Venezuela captures Nicolás Maduro Following a US military operation on January 3, 2026, that captured Nicolás Maduro and Cilia Flores, debates continue regarding the implications of the intervention and the potential for national catastrophe. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/us-military-operation-in-venezuela-captures-nicols-maduro ### 2026-09-06: Maduro dismissed military warnings of U.S. operation Reports suggest Nicolás Maduro ignored military warnings from Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López regarding a potential U.S. operation, opting instead to rely on assurances from intermediaries. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/maduro-dismissed-military-warnings-of-us-operation --- Cite as: US military operation and capture of Nicolás Maduro. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/us-military-operation-and-capture-of-nicols-maduro