Caracas woke up today to the sound of history being rewritten—loudly. At least seven explosions and low-flying aircraft swept through the Venezuelan capital around 2 a.m. local time, signaling the start of an extraordinary U.S. military operation that ended with President Nicolás Maduro being captured and flown out of the country.

Fact Check: What We Know

• Confirmed: Multiple blasts rocked Caracas and La Guaira port early Saturday.
• Confirmed: U.S. President Donald Trump announced Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were taken into custody and are aboard the U.S. warship Iwo Jima, en route to New York.
• Confirmed: Attorney General Pam Bondi stated the couple will face indictments related to narco-terrorism conspiracy.
• Unclear: The legal authority for this strike. Experts are debating whether this was lawful or just “international improv.”
• Unconfirmed: Casualty numbers. Venezuelan officials claim civilian and military deaths, but no verified figures yet.

Analysis: A Modern-Day Noriega Moment?

This move echoes the U.S. invasion of Panama in 1990, which led to the capture of Manuel Noriega—exactly 36 years ago today. History may not repeat itself perfectly, but it sure rhymes loudly when accompanied by fighter jets.

Moral of the Story

When superpowers play chess, the pawns don’t just fall—they trend on social media.