Canadian political leaders celebrate, condemn U.S. strikes on Venezuela and Maduro capture

Canadian political leaders are celebrating and condemning the United States over its nighttime strikes on the capital city of Venezuela and the subsequent capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.

In a statement posted to social media, Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand said Canada has "refused to recognize any legitimacy of the Maduro regime and opposed its repression of the Venezuelan people, including the persecution of dissenters and particularly political leaders opposed to the regime."

"In keeping with our long-standing commitment to upholding the rule of law and democracy, Canada calls on all parties to respect international law and we stand by the people of Venezuela and their desire to live in a peaceful and democratic society," Anand added.

Multiple explosions rang out overnight and low-flying aircraft swept through Caracas, the capital of the oil-rich nation, as Maduro's government immediately accused the United States of attacking civilian and military installations.

U.S. President Donald Trump announced the developments on his Truth Social platform shortly after 4:30 a.m. ET. He said the U.S. successfully carried out a "large-scale strike" against Venezuela.

In a social media post, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi said Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, have been indicted in the U.S. District Court in the Southern District of New York.

"They will soon face the wrath of American justice on American soil in American courts," Bondi said.

Later on Saturday morning, Trump told reporters at a news conference that the United States will "run" Venezuela "until such time that we can do a safe, proper and judicious transition."

The situation marks Washington's most direct intervention in Latin America since the 1989 invasion of Panama.

"Congratulations to President Trump on successfully arresting narco-terrorist and socialist dictator Nicolás Maduro, who should live out his days in prison," Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre said in a social media post on Saturday morning.

"Down with socialism. Long live freedom," Poilievre added.

In a social media post, interim NDP Leader Don Davies said the U.S. "attack on Venezuela is neither an act of self defence nor does it have UN Security Council authorization. It is therefore totally illegal and a breach of the UN covenants the US has agreed to uphold as a Member State."

He added: "The U.S. can have no credibility upholding international law and the rights of nations when it blatantly violates those principles itself."

Earlier on Saturday, Davies said that "Canada must strongly condemn it and call for the immediate cessation of aggression by the U.S. against the sovereign state of Venezuela."