Netanyahu congratulates Trump on Maduro’s capture

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has praised US President Donald Trump for the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores during a targeted US military operation, describing Trump’s leadership as “bold and historic.”

In a late-night post on X on Saturday (January 3), Netanyahu congratulated Trump for taking a firm stance in favour of freedom and justice, while also lauding the US military’s “impeccable and precise” execution of the mission.

The operation, carried out by US forces in Venezuela, reportedly targeted Maduro and his wife in connection with long-standing sanctions, alleged election fraud in 2024, and a $5 million reward issued against him. Maduro faces multiple serious charges, including drug trafficking.

Trump said he directly monitored the mission from his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida. In an interview with Fox News, he described observing every step of the operation in real time, comparing it to watching an action-packed television programme.

He added that Maduro was apprehended from a high-security facility, with US forces breaching a steel door within seconds.

According to CNN, Maduro is currently held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, New York, and will face trial in Manhattan federal court on drug and arms-related charges. The US Energy Information Administration estimates Venezuela holds approximately 303 billion barrels of crude oil reserves.