At least 40 people have been killed in recent US strikes on Venezuela, according to a report by The New York Times.

The deaths come as tensions sharply escalate following a US military operation that also led to the capture of President Nicolás Maduro.

The New York Times reported that at least 40 people were killed during US strikes on Venezuela, citing an unnamed Venezuelan official familiar with preliminary assessments.

The report said those killed included both civilians and military personnel, underscoring the scale and impact of the attacks.

Residential area hit near Caracas airport

According to the report, one US air strike hit a three-storey residential building in the Catia La Mar neighbourhood, a poor coastal area west of Caracas’s main airport.

The strike caused significant destruction in the area, leaving families displaced and homes reduced to rubble.

Among those killed was Rosa Gonzalez, an 80-year-old woman, along with members of her family. At least one other person was reported injured in the same attack.

Survivors describe loss and despair

Wilman Gonzalez, a nephew of Rosa Gonzalez who was injured in the strike, told The New York Times he did not know where he would go after losing his home.

A 70-year-old neighbour, Jorge, said he had “lost everything” in the air strike, highlighting the devastating impact on ordinary residents.

The reported civilian casualties come amid a dramatic escalation between Washington and Caracas. Earlier, US President Donald Trump said the United States carried out a major military operation in Venezuela involving air, land, and sea forces.

The operation resulted in the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, who has since been transferred to New York, where he is being held at Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center ahead of drug and weapons charges.