First image of President Nicolas Maduro aboard the USS Iwo Jima after being captured by US forces
US President Donald Trump has released a new image on his platform, Truth Social, which he says shows Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro aboard the USS Iwo Jima. Trump had previously stated in an interview with Fox News that this is the ship that is transporting the Venezuelan leader to the United States.
The image shows a man who appears to be Maduro, wearing an eye mask, headphones and a gray tracksuit. The authenticity of the photo could not be independently verified.
Meanwhile, CBS News, citing intelligence sources and reports originally published in the New York Times, says a CIA informant inside the Venezuelan government may have helped the United States locate Nicolás Maduro's position before he was captured by US special forces, known as Delta Force.
According to the same sources, the informant was part of an extensive intelligence-gathering network that included aerial imagery and communications interception. The operation was reportedly the result of months of planning and cooperation between the Central Intelligence Agency and the Department of Defense.
CIA Director John Ratcliffe had previously stated that the agency would prioritize recruiting human resources. It is not known when the informant was allegedly recruited.
The US government had previously offered a $50 million reward for information leading to Maduro's arrest.
Trump confirms Maduro's capture but leaves open questions
Donald Trump spoke for more than ten minutes with Fox News in the last hour, confirming some details of the military operation carried out overnight in Venezuela, but without fully clarifying its political consequences.
The president said Nicolás Maduro and his wife have been captured and are on their way to the United States. He added that no US servicemen were killed during the operation, although there were injuries.
Trump also said the United States was prepared for a “second wave” of military strikes against any Maduro loyalists still active in Venezuela.
The American president also expressed his belief that American companies will play a major role in the reconstruction of Venezuela's oil infrastructure. What remains less clear is the level of involvement of the United States in the general recovery of the country, which is in a deep economic and political crisis.
Trump did not provide clear details on who would lead Venezuela next, saying only that last night's action “sends a signal” that the United States will no longer be “pushed from behind” by other countries.
The claim is likely to cause concern internationally, particularly among the United States' regional neighbors, as the US president appears willing to use military force to achieve his foreign policy goals.
