Venezuela's vice president, Delcy Rodriguez, meanwhile, demanded that the United States free Maduro and called him the country's rightful leader as her nation's high court named her interim president. Some Venezuelan civilians and members of the military were killed, said Rodriguez, who didn't give a number. Maduro's government accused the United States of hitting civilian and military installations, calling it an “imperialist attack” and urging citizens to take to the streets. Questions of legalityWhether the United States violated any laws, international or otherwise, was still a question early Sunday. “There are a number of international legal concepts which the United States might have broken by capturing Maduro,” said Ilan Katz, an international law analyst.

Source: The Telegraph January 04, 2026 15:08 UTC