US President Donald Trump announced that Venezuela's Nicolas Maduro had been captured and flown out of the country after the United States carried out a large-scale strike that has been sharply condemned by Iran and Russia.

The US military action on the Venezuelan capital of Caracas began on January 3 after months of ongoing economic and military pressure from Washington on the South American country.

Details are still emerging about the events, but US Senator Mike Lee said US Secretary of State Marco Rubio informed him that Maduro had been arrested by US forces to stand trial on criminal charges in the United States.

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"He [Rubio] anticipates no further action in Venezuela now that Maduro is in US custody," Leewroteon X following a January 3 call with Washington's top diplomat.

Rubio has not yet commented publicly on the strikes, but reposted a statement from last July on his X account where he said that "Maduro is NOT the president of Venezuela and his regime is NOT the legitimate government."

In the original post, Rubio noted that in 2020 Maduro was charged by US prosecutors with narco-terrorism, corruption, drug trafficking, and other criminal charges.

What happens next in Venezuela is far from clear, but the US strikes and the capture of Maduro have already been strongly condemned by some of Caracas's strongest partners.

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Moscow, which maintains close ties with Venezuela, said it was extremely concerned by reports that Maduro and his wife had been forcibly removed from the country during "aggressive actions" from Washington.

"We call for immediate clarification of this situation," the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a January 3 statement.

"Such actions, if they did indeed take place, constitute an unacceptable violation of the sovereignty of an independent state, respect for which is a key principle of international law," the ministry said in a statement.

Iran, Russia Denounce US Attack On Venezuela

The Venezuelan government has not confirmed Maduro's capture, but Vice President Delcy Rodriguez said his whereabouts and those of First Lady Cilia Flores are unknown.

In televised comments, Rodriguez demanded proof of life from Washington and said the attack killed officials, military personnel, and civilians across the country.

The US moves come after months of ratcheting pressure on Maduro over accusations of drug-running and illegitimacy in power.

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Venezuela is Moscow's most important partner in Latin America and has provided diplomatic backing and levels of military support for Maduro's regime over the years as he has faced international and domestic pressure over contested elections and an ongoing economic crisis.

The Russian Foreign Ministry called the January 3 strikes an "act of armed aggression against Venezuela" by the United States, saying any "excuses" given to justify such actions were "untenable."

"We reaffirm our solidarity with the Venezuelan people and our support for the Bolivarian leadership's course of action aimed at protecting the country's national interests and sovereignty," said a statement from the ministry.

The ministry added that Latin America must "remain a zone of peace.

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Iran, another key ally of Venezuela, condemned the US military attack, according to Iranian state outlet Press TV.

The Iranian Foreign Ministry said the alleged attack violates Venezuela's sovereignty and territorial integrity as well as the UN charter, Press TV reported.

"The US military aggression against an independent state that is a member of the United Nations is a gross violation of regional and international peace and security, the consequences of which will affect the entire international system," the ministry said.

More International Reactions To US Strikes

Cuba, one of Maduro's staunchest allies, denounced what it described as a "criminal" US attack on Venezuela and is urgently calling for a reaction from the international community.

European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said Maduro "lacks legitimacy" and called for a "peaceful transition" following his capture.

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"Under all circumstances, the principles of international law and the UN Charter must be respected. We call for restraint," Kallas said.

Other European leaders said they were closely following the situation and working to ensure the safety of their citizens in the region.

China, which maintains strong economic and strategic ties with Venezuela, has not yet offered official comment on the strikes or Maduro's removal.

But Beijing, along with Moscow,expressedsupport for Venezuela this month as it confronted a US blockade on sanctioned oil tankers. China remains a top buyer for the majority of the oil shipped out of the South American country.

The day before the strikes, Maduro welcomed Qiu Xiaoqi, China's special representative on Latin American affairs, for a visit to Caracas, where they discussed China-Venezuela ties and Chinese investment projects in the country.