Bogotá/Caracas: Colombian President Gustavo Petro on Saturday said public and support forces were being deployed along the country’s border with Venezuela after the United States claimed it carried out a large-scale overnight strike and captured President Nicolás Maduro, sharply escalating tensions in the region.

Speaking after an emergency National Security Council meeting convened at 3 a.m., Petro said Colombian authorities were preparing for a potential “massive influx of refugees” and had activated the Colombian Embassy in Venezuela to assist nationals seeking help. He added that Bogotá would seek an urgent meeting of the United Nations Security Council, rejecting what he described as aggression against the sovereignty of Venezuela and Latin America.

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“The principle of the self-determination of peoples is the foundation of the United Nations system,” Petro said, calling on Venezuelans to pursue civil dialogue and unity. “Without sovereignty, there is no nation. Peace is the way, and dialogue between peoples is fundamental for national unity.”

The Colombian move came hours after multiple explosions were reported in Caracas, with low-flying aircraft seen over the Venezuelan capital. The Venezuelan government accused the United States of attacking civilian and military installations, branding it an “imperialist attack” and urging citizens to take to the streets.

US President Donald Trump said on social media that American forces had carried out a “successful” operation and that Maduro and his wife had been captured and flown out of the country in an operation conducted alongside US law enforcement. He said further details would be provided at a news conference later on Saturday.

Maduro’s whereabouts could not be independently confirmed, and it was unclear who was in control of the Venezuelan government following the reported operation. Residents poured into the streets as social media filled with claims of explosions and troop movements.

The apparent attack lasted less than 30 minutes, according to initial accounts, and there was no immediate confirmation of casualties. The US Federal Aviation Administration issued a ban on US commercial flights in Venezuelan airspace, citing “ongoing military activity.”

The developments follow months of heightened pressure by the Trump administration on Maduro, who has been charged with narco-terrorism in the United States. Maduro has repeatedly denounced US military actions as an attempt to remove him from power.