Nicolás Maduro

The central framing of the move is explicitly geopolitical, aimed at blocking the China-Russia-Iran axis in the US's backyard.

Before former president Hugo Chávez began distancing Venezuela from Washington and aligning with US and Israeli adversaries such as Iran, Venezuela maintained a defense relationship with Israel.

The Jerusalem Post's must-listen news roundup with Shifra Jacobs—the top stories, clear and concise. 

The US president is a man of action, as Rubio has characterized him. "If you don't know, now you know.” Now Madruo knows. Iran, Russia, China, and other countries will be watching. 

With Maduro captured, the US aims to stabilize Venezuela, counter regional threats, and support domestic democratic forces.

The Iranian protests continue to be a central focus for the Israeli intelligence community, but the capture of Maduro has added an additional element of instability to the regime.

The US military action overnight constitutes "a dangerous precedent," Guterres' spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said in a statement.

Venezuela’s Supreme Court ordered Vice President Delcy Rodríguez to assume the role of acting president following the detention of Nicolás Maduro by US forces.

Some activists displayed hammer and sickle imagery, while activists from Palestinian Assembly for Liberation-Awda NY/NJ marched with a banner calling for "liberation" and "return."

A Venezuelan academic said Maduro’s capture exposed a collapse of civilian authority, leaving a power vacuum filled by the military and external actors.