Amid uncertainty following the leftist president's dramatic capture, Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez appeared to throw his weight behind Rodriguez, who US President Donald Trump had earlier indicated was a figure Washington could work with.
Padrino read out a statement on television endorsing a Supreme Court ruling that appointed Rodriguez as acting president for 90 days.
He also called on Venezuelans to get back to their daily life, speaking less than two days after the US strikes shook the capital Caracas and special forces seized Maduro and his wife.
Padrino denounced it as a "cowardly kidnapping" and said that some of Maduro's bodyguards were killed "in cold blood," as well as military personnel and civilians on the Venezuelan side.
Venezuelan authorities have not yet given an official toll for people hurt or killed in the US operations.
The streets of Caracas were deserted and quiet on Sunday, with many businesses closed and moderate queues at some markets and pharmacies.
"I call on the people of Venezuela to resume their activities of all kinds, economic, work and education, in the coming days," Padrino said.
"The homeland must follow its constitutional course."
What we know about the US attacks on Venezuela
Caracas (AFP) Jan 3, 2026 -
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:
- How did it start? -
The first explosions, accompanied by the sound of aircraft flying overhead, were heard in the capital Caracas and surrounding areas shortly before 2:00 am (0600 GMT), AFP reporters said.
They continued until around 3:15 am.
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 0921 GMT 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."
- What did the strikes target? -
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 academy and housing units for troops and their families.
AFP reporters saw flames and huge plumes of smoke rising from the complex.
At one of the entrances, which was still guarded, AFP reporters saw an armored vehicle and truck pocked with bullet marks.
Residents pulling suitcases and carrying bags fled the area.
One woman, who did not wish to be named, said she was leaving "because they nearly killed us."
There was no word yet on casualties.
La Carlota airbase east of Caracas was also targeted.
AFP reporters saw an armored vehicle at the base in flames and a burnt-out bus.
Explosions were also reported in the port city of La Guaira, north of Caracas as well as in the north-central city of Maracay, Higuerote on the Caribbean coast and on the border with Colombia, a cocaine smuggling route.
- Are there casualties? -
Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez accused US forces of firing missiles and rockets at residential areas.
It was not possible to immediately confirm that.
There was no immediate information on casualties.
Padrino said the government was gathering information "on the dead and injured."
- Has Maduro been deposed? -
Trump said Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores were captured and flown out of the country.
It was not clear how they managed to capture Maduro, who was reported to regularly change residence to avoid being nabbed by US forces.
On Thursday he was filmed by television driving in Caracas.
Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez on Saturday called on the United States to issue "proof of life" of the presidential couple.
Russia, one of Venezuela's top allies, also called for "immediate" clarity about his fate.
- How has the world reacted? -
Russia, Iran and Cuba -- longtime allies of Venezuela -- all condemned the attack, as did Mexico and Brazil, both run by left-wing governments, and the left-wing president of Venezuela's neighbor Colombia.
Russia's foreign ministry said the "act of armed aggression against Venezuela" was "deeply concerning."
The EU's top diplomat Kaja Kallas, in a call with her US counterpart Marco Rubio, called on Washington to show "restraint" and respect for international law.
Argentina's right-wing President Javier Milei, an arch-Trump fan, was among the rare Latin American leaders to cheer the strikes.
US-Venezuela: from sanctions to military action
Paris, France (AFP) Jan 3, 2026 -
The US military attack on Caracas on Saturday -- and reported capture of President Nicolas Maduro -- caps years of tensions between Washington and Venezuela, which started in 2006 with US sanctions.
- 2006: first sanctions -
Relations between Washington and Venezuela plummet following the 1999 arrival in power of President Hugo Chavez, Latin America's leftist firebrand.
In 2006, the United States under President George W. Bush bans the sale of weapons and US-made military equipment to Venezuela, citing a lack of cooperation in the fight against terrorism.
By 2010, the two countries no longer have ambassadors in each other's capital.
- 2014: accusations of human rights violations -
After Chavez dies in 2013 following a battle with cancer and his handpicked successor Nicolas Maduro takes over, the US administration of Barack Obama imposes in late 2014 and early 2015 sanctions on several top Venezuelan officials, freezing their US assets and banning visas.
Washington accuses Venezuela of rights breaches in its violent crackdown on demonstrations against Maduro.
- 2017: Trump raises 'military option' -
The first adminstration of Donald Trump in 2017 slaps financial sanctions on several top officials, including members of the supreme court, for having undermined the powers of parliament.
The legislative body had been under the control of the opposition since late 2015.
After Maduro created a Constituent Assembly to override parliament, Washington imposes sanctions on him, freezing his assets in the United States.
Trump for the first time speaks of a "military option" in Venezuela, a threat he would go on to repeat over the coming years.
Washington bans the purchase of bonds issued by the Venezuelan government and by national oil company PDVSA.
- 2019: Sanctions toughened -
After Maduro's re-election, which Washington and other capitals consider a sham, Trump in 2019 toughens economic sanctions with the aim of strangling the country and ousting Maduro.
Caracas severs diplomatic relations after the United States, followed by dozens of other countries, recognises opposition leader Juan Guaido as interim president.
Guaido's self-proclaimed government is dissolved in 2023.
Washington also imposes sanctions on oil company PDVSA and Venezuela's central bank.
- 2019: oil embargo -
On April 28, 2019, Washington slaps an oil embargo on Venezuela. It then freezes all Venezuelan government assets in the United States.
The oil embargo is slightly eased in 2023 to compensate for a shortfall of Russian crude after the invasion of Ukraine.
It is reinstated when Washington says that Maduro is not meeting his commitment to hold a fair presidential election in 2024, with opposition leader Maria Corina Machado -- a future Nobel Peace laureate -- declared ineligible.
At the beginning of his second term in early 2025, Trump puts a stop to the oil licences which allowed oil and gas multinationals to operate in Venezuela despite the sanctions.
US company Chevron is allowed to operate anew in July, but is no longer allowed to give money to the Venezuelan government.
- 2020: $50 million bounty for Maduro -
In 2020 Maduro, and several of his entourage are charged in the United States with "narco-terrorism" with Washington offering a reward of $15 million for any information leading to his arrest.
In August 2025, it raises the reward to $50 million.
Washington accuses Maduro of leading the so-called "Cartel of the Suns", whose existence remains to be proved, according to experts.
- 2025: airstrikes -
August 2025 signals the start of a massive US military build-up in the Caribbean, where Washington has since September been carrying out deadly airstrikes on boats it alleges are used by drug traffickers, accusing Caracas of being behind drugs flooding into the United States.
On Wednesday, December 10 the United States says it had seized an oil tanker off Venezuela's coast. Caracas accuses Washington of international piracy.
Trump on December 29 says his forces hit and destroyed a docking area on Venezuela's coast which he alleged was used by drug boats -- the first known land strike in the US military campaign.
- 2026: Caracas attacked, Maduro grabbed -
On January 3, the US conducts a wave of airstrikes on and around Caracas and Trump declares that his military captured Maduro and his wife and flew them out of Venezuela.
The Venezuelan government accuses the United States of an "extremely serious military aggression" and calls for an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council.
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