13 January 2026
U.S. forces boarded sanctioned oil tanker between Iceland and the British isles before Russian warships and a submarine could arrive, officials say. The tanker was previously called Bella 1, but had reflagged to become a Russian vessel
Multiple U-28A “Draco” Special Operations Aircraft with the U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) have departed from Wick John O'Groats Airport in Northern Scotland and are heading northwest towards Iceland, expected to pass almost directly over where operations are currently ongoing to seize the Russian-flagged Iranian-linked oil tanker, Marinera5 day ago
Multiple U-28A “Draco” Special Operations Aircraft with the U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) have departed from Wick John O'Groats Airport in Northern Scotland and are heading northwest towards Iceland, expected to pass almost directly over where operations are currently ongoing to seize the Russian-flagged Iranian-linked oil tanker, Marinera
Another interception underway, this one in Latin American water
The United States is attempting to seize a Venezuela-linked oil tanker after a more two-week-long pursuit across the Atlantic. The seizure, which could stoke tensions with Russia, came after the tanker, originally known as the Bella-1, slipped through a U.S. maritime "blockade" of sanctioned tankers and rebuffed U.S. Coast Guard efforts to board it
Military forces are attempting to board the Russian-flagged tanker 'Marinera', a source tells Russian State News Agency RT
China strongly condemned the US for redirecting Venezuelan oil exports to Washington and away from Beijing, after President Trump unveiled a plan to refine and sell up to 50 million barrels of Venezuelan oil stuck in the country under a US blockade
At least 5 sanctioned tankers involved in Venezuelan oil exports are now declaring themselves Russian, per the NYT. The Russian Navy is reportedly sending ships to escort one, currently being pursued by U.S. forces in the North Atlantic
Colombia's foreign minister on Tuesday said the country's military must defend the country's territory and sovereignty in the event of a hypothetical U.S. invasion
The New York Times, citing US officials: Washington is pressuring Venezuela to expel advisors from China, Russia, Cuba, and Iran.
Russia sends submarine to escort oil tanker that the US tried to seize off the coast of Venezuela, according to The Wall Street Journal
President Donald J. Trump announces Interim Authorities in Venezuela will be turning over between 30 and 50 MILLION Barrels of High Quality, Sanctioned Oil, to the United States of America
Brazil calls the capture of Maduro at the OAS meeting a "kidnapping".
Delcy Rodríguez, after Trump's threats: "Personally, to those who threaten me, I say: my destiny is decided only by God. That is my response."
Delcy Rodríguez: There is no external agent governing Venezuela. In a ministerial meeting, she stated: "Venezuela is currently on a painful path due to the aggression it has suffered, which is unprecedented in our history and in the history of South America. However, the Venezuelan people are active in the streets, with the women of Venezuela marching today for peace in our country, demanding the freedom of our heroes, President Maduro and First Lady Cilia Flores. This is a people who do not surrender. We are united and governing alongside the people. The government of Venezuela is governed by its constitutional government; there is no external agent governing Venezuela. It is Venezuela, it is its constitutional government, it is the consolidated power of the people."
6 day ago
Demonstrators gathered in front of Austin City Hall on Sunday to protest the U.S. bombing of Venezuela over the weekend and the capture of President Nicolás Maduro
Venezuela’s Ministry of Communication and Information has now confirmed that gunfire heard earlier tonight near the Miraflores Presidential Palace Complex in Caracas, was the results of warning shots being fired by police at “unidentified drones” flying over the palace without permission from the Ministry of Defense. “We want to clarify that what happened in downtown Caracas was because some drones flew over without permission and the police fired dissuasive shots. No confrontation took place. The whole country is in total tranquility,” said a Spokesman for the Information Ministry.
1 week ago
Turkiye's Erdogan, Trump discussed bilateral ties, defense industry cooperation, trade, Gaza and Venezuela in phone call, Turkish presidency says
The State Department is "making preparations to allow for a reopening" of the U.S. embassy in Caracas "should the President make that decision," a senior State Department official said Monday. Embassy operations were suspended and its staff was withdrawn in 2019
The US will meet with oil executives this week to discuss Venezuela's economic recovery, according to Bloomberg.
Delcy Rodríguez was sworn in as acting president of Venezuela. The National Assembly, controlled by the Chavista regime, swore in Delcy Rodríguez as "acting president" after US forces captured Maduro in a military operation over the weekend. The act was carried out following a "ruling" by the Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court of Justice, also controlled by the regime.
Secretary RUBIO: "I don't care what the UN says. The UN doesn't know what they're talking about."
Venezuela denounces "flagrant violation" of the UN Charter and demands Maduro's release
Reuters: Venezuelan President Maduro denies charges in court in drug-related terrorism case
The hearing against Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores has just begun.
Venezuelan representative: Institutions are functioning normally, the constitutional order is preserved, and the state exercises effective control over all its territory.
Department of State: This is OUR Hemisphere, and President Trump will not allow our security to be threatened
Deputy Maduro Guerra proposes Jorge Rodríguez as president, Pedro Infante as first vice president, and Grecia Colmenárez as second vice president for the board.
Maduro's son speaks from the Venezuelan National Assembly: "This is not a regional problem, it is a direct threat to global political stability." "My family and I are being persecuted because we cannot be bought."
US representative to the UN: "The US successfully conducted an operation against two fugitive narco-militants. Maduro is responsible for perpetrating attacks against the US and repressing his people. There is no war with Venezuela."
Armed civilians set up checkpoints and inspect vehicles on the Caracas highway in the absence of the Armed Forces