Photos show damage at Fuerte Tiuna, the military base where Maduro was captured

President Trump said the Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife were “captured and removed from the country” on Saturday morning, confirming what he described as a large-scale US strike that triggered a rapid attack. worldwide condemnation and concern.

A CIA source in the Venezuelan government helped the U.S. track down Location of MaduroCBS News has learned. Following reports from explosions and low-flying planes In the country’s capital, Maduro was eventually captured at Fuerte Tiuna, Venezuela’s largest military compound located in Caracas, Venezuela’s ruling party leader Nahum Fernández told The Associated Press.

The satellite images below show before and after the US strikes on Fuerte Tiuna.

Fuerte Tiuna before the American strikes

Vantor satellite images from December 22 show an overview of the Fuerte Tiuna military complex showing buildings and equipment before the damage caused by the strike.

Fuerte Tiuna after the American strikes

Vantor satellite images show damage to vehicles and equipment at the Fuerte Tiuna military base in Caracas after the January 3 strikes.

U.S. officials told CBS News that the operation to capture Maduro was carried out by the military’s Delta Force, an elite special operations unit.

Helicopters that descended on Maduro’s compound came under fire, said Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, but U.S. forces and the FBI eventually entered the compound. Maduro and his wife “gave up” and were taken into custody, Caine said.

Speaking at a news conference, Mr. Trump said the U.S. temporarily supervise Venezuela during a transition period and would strive to restore oil production. He also said Maduro tried to escape when captured.

“He was trying to get to a safe place,” Mr. Trump told reporters. “The safe place was all steel, and he couldn’t make it to the door because our guys were too fast.”

In addition to the main military base hit, David Smolansky, spokesperson for Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, told CBS News that the following locations were also hit by the U.S. strikes: La Carlota, the main air base in Caracas; El Volcán, signal antenna; and the Port of La Guaira, a seaport on the Caribbean coast.

Maduro should face federal charges in the United States linked to drug trafficking and alleged links to gangs designated as terrorist organizations – claims he has denied. Attorney General Pam Bondi on Saturday announced a superseding indictment similar to the one filed against Maduro in 2020.