**US Conducts Cyber Warfare Operation to Disrupt Venezuela’s Power Grid in Caracas**
On January 3, 2026, the U.S. government publicly acknowledged a classified military operation targeting Venezuela’s capital, Caracas, which involved a deliberate blackout to destabilize the regime of President Nicolás Maduro. The operation, described as a success by senior military officials, was part of a broader strategy to facilitate Maduro’s capture amid allegations of his involvement in narco-terrorism and drug trafficking.
According to the White House, the cyberattack disrupted Venezuela’s power grid and digital infrastructure, plunging large portions of Caracas into darkness. U.S. Cyber Command and Space Command collaborated in a "layered effects" operation, combining cyber and electronic warfare tactics. NetBlocks, a global internet monitoring firm, confirmed that a large-scale Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack overwhelmed Caracas’ servers, crippling communications and hindering the government’s response.
The U.S. justified the operation by accusing Maduro’s administration of supporting drug cartels and laundering illicit funds, framing the move as necessary to dismantle criminal networks. However, the action has drawn sharp criticism, with opponents condemning it as a violation of international law, sovereignty, and human rights—particularly given Venezuela’s ongoing political and economic crisis.
The incident marks a significant escalation in U.S. cyber warfare tactics and has intensified global debate over the legality and ethics of state-sponsored cyber operations. The international response remains uncertain as the fallout from the attack continues to unfold.
NetBlocks cybersecurity rating report: https://www.rankiteo.com/company/netblocks
"id": "NET1767633402",
"linkid": "netblocks",
"type": "Cyber Attack",
"date": "1/2026",
"severity": "25",
"impact": "1",
"explanation": "Attack without any consequences"{'affected_entities': [{'customers_affected': 'Civilian population of Caracas',
'industry': 'Public Sector',
'location': 'Caracas, Venezuela',
'name': 'Venezuela Government',
'type': 'Government'}],
'attack_vector': 'Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS)',
'date_detected': '2026-01-03',
'date_publicly_disclosed': '2026-01-03',
'description': 'The US government orchestrated a cyber operation to disrupt '
"Venezuela's power grid in Caracas, leading to a blackout as "
'part of a broader strategy to capture Venezuelan President '
'Nicolás Maduro. The operation involved US Cyber Command and '
'US Space Command, utilizing DDoS attacks to overwhelm digital '
'communications and destabilize the region.',
'impact': {'brand_reputation_impact': 'International criticism and '
'allegations of unlawful aggression',
'legal_liabilities': 'Potential violations of international law '
'(sovereignty, non-interference)',
'operational_impact': 'Disruption of governance and civilian '
'access to information',
'systems_affected': ['Power grid',
'Web services',
'Digital communications']},
'investigation_status': 'Ongoing (controversy and international scrutiny)',
'motivation': ['Destabilization',
'Capture of Nicolás Maduro',
'Disruption of narco-terrorist activities'],
'post_incident_analysis': {'root_causes': "US government's strategic "
'objective to capture Nicolás '
'Maduro and disrupt narco-terrorist '
'activities'},
'references': [{'source': 'NetBlocks'},
{'source': 'US Government Official Statement'}],
'regulatory_compliance': {'regulations_violated': ['International law '
'(sovereignty, '
'non-interference)']},
'response': {'communication_strategy': 'Official statement by the US '
'President and General Dan Caine'},
'stakeholder_advisories': 'International observers and critics questioning '
'the legality and morality of the operation',
'threat_actor': 'US Government (US Cyber Command, US Space Command)',
'title': "US Cyber Operation Targeting Venezuela's Power Grid",
'type': 'Cyber Warfare'}