Caracas, VENEZUELA — After months of mounting military and economic pressure, the United States on Saturday carried out airstrikes on targets across Venezuela and claimed to have deposed authoritarian left-wing President Nicolas Maduro. Here’s what we know so far:

The first explosions, accompanied by the sound of aircraft flying overhead, were heard in the capital of Caracas and surrounding areas shortly before 2 a.m. local time, AFP reporters said.

They continued until around 3:15 a.m.

Images shared on social media showed helicopters silhouetted against the night sky and missiles slamming into targets, creating fireballs and huge plumes of smoke.

Trump said at 5:21 a.m. on his Truth Social platform that the United States had “successfully carried out a large-scale strike against Venezuela” and that Maduro and his wife had been “captured and flown out of the Country.”

Around five hours after the attacks began, US Senator Mike Lee cited US Secretary of State Marco Rubio as saying that the military action had ended “now that Maduro is in custody.”

Fort Tiuna, Venezuela’s largest military complex, situated in southern Caracas, was among the targets.

The vast base is home to the defense ministry, a military........

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