Israeli leaders praise the capture of Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro by US forces, call operation warning to Iran
Leaders say operation in Venezuela could lead to US action in Iran, due to terror links between countries
Israeli leaders welcomed the capture of Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro on Saturday evening, after it was announced by U.S. President Donald Trump on his Truth Social account.
“Congratulations, President Donald Trump for your bold and historic leadership on behalf of freedom and justice,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu posted to social media on Saturday evening. “I salute your decisive resolve and the brilliant action of your brave soldiers.”
Congratulations, President @realDonaldTrump for your bold and historic leadership on behalf of freedom and justice. I salute your decisive resolve and the brilliant action of your brave soldiers.
— Benjamin Netanyahu - בנימין נתניהו (@netanyahu) January 3, 2026
Netanyahu’s statement was echoed by Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar and Minister of Diaspora and Combating Antisemitism Amichai Chikli.
“Israel commends the United States’ operation, led by President Trump, which acted as the leader of the free world,” FM Sa’ar wrote on his personal social media account.
“At this historic moment, Israel stands alongside the freedom-loving Venezuelan people, who have suffered under Maduro’s illegal tyranny,” Sa’ar continued. “The people of Venezuela deserve to exercise their democratic rights. South America deserves a future free from the axis of terror and drugs.”
Israel commends the United States’ operation, led by President Trump, which acted as the leader of the free world.
— Gideon Sa'ar | גדעון סער (@gidonsaar) January 3, 2026
At this historic moment, Israel stands alongside the freedom-loving Venezuelan people, who have suffered under Maduro’s illegal tyranny.
Israel welcomes the removal…
Last November Sa'ar spoke before a joint session of Paraguay's National Assembly and addressed the danger Maduro presented to the region, including his connection to the “axis of evil.”
“In South America, criminals are building narco-terror alliances with the Middle East terror states. The nexus of this network is Venezuela. Venezuela destabilized the region by driving a refugee crisis,” said the Israeli foreign minister.
“It serves as a base for Hezbollah terror operatives. It hosts an Iranian weapons production facility. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro had said openly that Venezuela is part of the 'Axis of Resistance.' When he said this we should believe him,” Sa'ar concluded.
Diaspora Affairs Minister Amichai Chikli said that Maduro’s capture is a warning message to Iranian dictator Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
“The capture of Nicolás Maduro is not only good news for the people dwelling in Caracas, it is also a devastating blow to the global axis of evil and a clear message to Khamenei,” Chikli wrote in Hebrew.
Chikli noted the connection between Venezuela and Iran and its proxy in Lebanon, Hezbollah.
“Maduro did not run a country, he ran a criminal and drug empire that directly fueled Hezbollah and Iran,” Chikli continued. “This is a frontal battle between the values of freedom and the West and the dangerous alliance of radical Islam and communism.”
Chikli’s message regarding Iran was echoed by opposition leader Yair Lapid, who wrote in English, “The regime in Iran should pay close attention to what is happening in Venezuela.”
Not only did Israeli leaders praise the capture of Maduro, a prominent Palestinian activist, Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib, who has been a vocal critic of Hamas’ treatment of the Palestinian people, asked why the U.S. hasn’t done the same to the leadership of Hamas.
If the United States can surgically snatch a head of state with an entire army around him in a matter of 2 hours, why hasn't it picked up Hamas's leaders outside of Gaza, responsible for a terror attack on October 7 that killed 46
— Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib (@afalkhatib) January 3, 2026
Americans & kidnapped 12 others? Arrest them now! pic.twitter.com/xq6ntEtqDs
“If the United States can surgically snatch a head of state with an entire army around him in a matter of 2 hours, why hasn't it picked up Hamas's leaders outside of Gaza?” Alkhatib asked on social media.
In Israel, Maduro's capture is seen as is a dramatic event with direct security implications for the conflict with the Iranian axis. Under Maduro, and his predecessor Hugo Chavez, Venezuela had become a kind of forward base for both Iran and its proxy Hezbollah, the latter of which used the Latin American country as one of its primary bases for narcotics trafficking as a way to raise funds for the terror group. This is partially behind President Trump’s charges of “narco-terrorism” when justifying recent U.S. actions in the country.
The Israeli think tank Commanders for Israel’s Security, reiterated the message that the Iranian regime should see the Maduro operation as a warning, writing on 𝕏, “The American action in Venezuela is a warning to the regime in Iran.”
Last week, Trump threatened to “come to the rescue” of Iranian protesters, if the Islamic Republic’s regime began attacking them.
“If Iran shots (sic) and violently kills peaceful protesters, which is their custom, the United States of America will come to their rescue,” Trump posted to social media. “We are locked and loaded and ready to go.”
The action in Venezuela, along with the previous strikes as part of Operation Midnight Hammer, lend credence to the idea that the U.S. could pursue action against Iran.
The All Israel News Staff is a team of journalists in Israel.
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