U.S. Forces in Venezuela
On January 3rd, 2026, U.S. President Donald Trump ordered a major attack on Venezuela targeting the country’s president Nicolás Maduro, who was ultimately seized and taken to the United States.
This page brings together Airwars’ documentation of civilian harm allegations from the raid, as well as allegations of harm to civilian infrastructure. A detailed methodology note can be found here.
Image:
3DE00K5 Residents look at a damaged apartment complex that neighbors say was hit during U.S. strikes to capture Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, in Catia La Mar, Venezuela, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
Citation
17 Jun 2025
U.S. Military Command That Attacked Venezuela Gutted Its Civilian Harm Team
Reporting in the Intercept of Airwars' role referring cases of harm to the US military
Methodology
28 Jan 2026
How we document harm in Venezuela
Detailed outline of Airwars' methodology with a new and expanded approach
Munitions Identification
Open Source Munitions Portal: Venezuela
A selection of munitions identified in Venezuela by Airwars' sister project
Related Conflict
U.S. Military in Latin America and the Caribbean
7 incidents
Incident Date
3 January 2026
Incident Code
USVEN260103g
Location
Panamericana substation and Escuela Militar substation, Caracas, Venezuela
An alleged U.S. military attack struck and damaged multiple electrical substations in Caracas, Venezuela on January 3, 2026. The National Electric Corporation of Venezuela (CORPOELEC) released a statement condemning the attack which “severely damaged the Panamericana 69 kV and Escuela Militar 4.8 kV substations, taking the OAM-Vega Caricuao-Panamericana 1 and 2 69 kV and Junquito-Panamericana …
Summary
Published
12 January 2026
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Infrastructure
Resources, Power Station
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Actor
U.S. Forces
Incident Date
3 January 2026
Incident Code
USVEN260103e
Location
La Guaira Port, La Guaira, Venezuela
Puerto La Guaira
An alleged U.S. military attack destroyed a warehouse with medical supplies in Puerto La Guaira, Venezuela on January 3, 2026. According to @camilapress, the U.S. military bombed a medical supplies distribution center, destroying a warehouse with supplies for dialysis patients. The post specified that the attack affected “patients undergoing hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis, affecting at …
Summary
Published
12 January 2026
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Infrastructure
Warehouse
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Actor
U.S. Forces
Incident Date
3 January 2026
Incident Code
USVEN260103d
Location
La Boyera, Miranda, Venezuela
A home belonging to an elderly woman was reportedly destroyed during an alleged U.S. military attack which struck La Boyera, Venezuela the morning of January 3, 2025. A GoFundMe page was created by Juan Imery who identified himself as the grandson of 78-year-old Elena Berti Cupello whose home was destroyed in Caracas, Venezuela during the …
Summary
Published
12 January 2026
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Infrastructure
Residential
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Actor
U.S. Forces
Incident Date
3 January 2026
Incident Code
USVEN260103c
Location
Catia la Mar, La Guaira, Venezuela
An elderly woman was killed and two others, including another woman, were injured by alleged U.S. airstrikes which hit a home in Prolongación Soublette in Catia La Mar, Caracas, Venezuela around 2 a.m. on January 3, 2026. The airstrikes reportedly occurred during U.S. operations to capture Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro. The New York Times reported …
Summary
Published
6 January 2026
Strike Type
Airstrike
Infrastructure
Residential, Apartment Building
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
2
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Actor
U.S. Forces
Incident Date
3 January 2026
Incident Code
USVEN260103b
Location
El Volcán transmission tower, El Hatillo, Miranda, Venezuela
Antena de El Volcán, El Hatillo
One woman was killed and her daughter was injured by an alleged U.S. airstrike on a TV and telephone antenna in El Volcán, in the municipality of El Hatillo, in the state of Miranda, Venezuela at 1 a.m. on January 3, 2026. The airstrikes reportedly occurred during US operations to capture Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro. …
Summary
Published
6 January 2026
Strike Type
Airstrike
Infrastructure
Residential, Communications, Telephone, TV, Agriculture
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
1
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Actor
U.S. Forces
Incident Date
3 January 2026
Incident Code
USVEN260103a
Location
Vicinity of Oscar Machado Zoluaga Airport, Charallave, Miranda, Venezuela
Two civilians, reportedly air traffic control employees, were killed in their car near the Oscar Machado Zoluaga Airport in Charallave, Venezuela by an alleged U.S. airstrike early in the morning on January 3, 2026. The airstrikes reportedly occurred during U.S. operations to capture Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. According to @venezuelast on Telegram, two people were …
Summary
Published
6 January 2026
Strike Type
Airstrike
Infrastructure
Vehicle
Civilians reported killed
2
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Actor
U.S. Forces