Demonstrators celebrate the arrival of captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro at the Metropolitan Detention Center, Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo)
US Strikes Venezuela: Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores were seized during an US operation Saturday and taken to New York to face weapons and drug-related charges.
The removal and capture of Maduro has led to questions about whether figures inside his own circle may have co-operated with the United States, Fox News reported.
Two senior figures linked to Maduro’s inner circle Diosdado Cabello and Vladimir Padrino López publicly condemned the US strikes. But Fox News said some analysts are asking why the Venezuelan Armed Forces appeared not to resist.
WHO IS IN MADURO’S INNER CIRCLE
Cabello serves as minister of interior, justice and peace and is seen as one of the most influential figures in the ruling movement. Padrino López is the head of the Armed Forces and holds significant institutional power.
Both Cabello and López criticised the US action but Fox News reported that their statements “rang hollow” to some observers because the military did not block the operation.
In a video posted on X, Padrino López condemned what he called “criminal military aggression by the government of the United States”, saying missiles and rockets struck several areas including Caracas, Aragua and La Guaira.
He said Venezuela “rejects with all its strength the presence of these foreign troops”, adding that the intervention was motivated by foreign interest in the country’s resources, Fox News reported.
WHY SOME SUSPECT BETRAYAL
Fox News said some analysts believe the smooth nature of the US mission suggests possible co-operation from inside the regime.
Women celebrate and dance while holding up an image featuring US President Donald Trump, Venezuela President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, in the parking lot of Mi Querencia Latin Market off Westheimer Parkway in Katy, Texas. after the US captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife in a military operation. (Photo: AP)
Venezuelan economist Jorge Jraissati told Fox News that the speed of the operation shows the United States “had great intelligence on the ground” and that “Venezuelans were actively cooperating with the Americans.”
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He said, “Trump’s operation is not against the Venezuelan people; it is against those who oppress us.”
MADURO NOW IN US CUSTODY
President Donald Trump is now overseeing the situation and that Maduro is being held on a US warship before being taken to New York for court proceedings.
Maduro had already been facing international pressure, including a disputed election and a $50 million reward previously placed on him by US authorities.
POWER STRUGGLE INSIDE VENEZUELA
Vice-President Delcy Rodríguez has declared herself acting head of state, but Fox News said there is uncertainty about her location, with reports placing her in Russia — something Moscow has denied.
At the same time, opposition figure María Corina Machado widely viewed by supporters as the most likely winner in a free election has not been seen publicly since leaving Norway in December, according to the report. Fox News said this could lead to a power struggle between Rodríguez and Machado.
The report said analysts will now look at whether Cabello, Padrino López or members of the military were involved in passing information that helped US forces track Maduro.
Fox News said some regime figures may remain and fight while others could try to negotiate exits to Cuba or Russia.
The future of the ruling movement remains uncertain, with Fox News noting that “the Chavista movement will not leave power easily”.
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Demonstrators celebrate the arrival of captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro at the Metropolitan Detention Center, Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo) 
