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US forces seize Maduro in covert Caracas operation
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro was taken into custody by US special forces during a pre-dawn raid on Saturday, marking the first direct military intervention by Washington in Latin America since the Cold War. The mission, codenamed Operation Absolute Resolve, unfolded over two hours and twenty minutes, involving air strikes, ground assaults, and naval support.
Months of surveillance and rehearsals
US intelligence had spent months tracking Maduro's movements, including his sleep patterns, meals, and even his pets, according to senior military officials. A source within the Venezuelan government reportedly assisted in the surveillance. Elite troops constructed a full-scale replica of Maduro's Caracas safe house to practice entry routes.
Congress was kept in the dark until after the operation began. Military leaders waited for optimal conditions-clear weather and minimal cloud cover-to maximize the element of surprise. President Donald Trump initially approved the mission four days earlier but delayed execution until Friday night.
"Over the weeks through Christmas and New Year, the men and women of the United States military sat ready, patiently waiting for the right triggers to be met and the president to order us into action."
General Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
Precision strikes and urban assault
The operation commenced at 22:46 EST on Friday (03:46 GMT Saturday) with over 150 aircraft, including bombers, fighter jets, and reconnaissance planes. Explosions rocked Caracas around 02:00 local time (06:00 GMT), with smoke rising over the city and power reportedly cut to key areas.
BBC Verify confirmed strikes at five locations, including Generalissimo Francisco de Miranda Air Base, La Carlota airfield, and Port La Guaira. Witnesses described low-flying helicopters, detonations, and darkened streets illuminated only by flashes of light.
Delta Force operatives, equipped with blowtorches to breach steel doors, stormed Maduro's compound shortly after the strikes began. Trump described the safe house as a "fortress" and claimed Maduro attempted to flee to a secure room before being overwhelmed.
Regional backlash and political fallout
Brazil's President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva condemned the raid as a "dangerous precedent," while US lawmakers criticized the lack of congressional approval. Senator Chuck Schumer, the Democratic leader, called the operation "reckless," arguing it lacked a credible post-capture plan.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended the secrecy, stating that briefing Congress in advance would have risked leaks. "This would not be good," Trump added.
Maduro flown to US to face charges
By 04:20 local time, Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were en route to New York under US custody. Trump announced the capture an hour later, declaring they would "face the full might of American justice." The US had previously offered a $50 million reward for information leading to Maduro's arrest, citing allegations of drug trafficking and narco-terrorism.
No US service members were killed, though Trump acknowledged "a couple of guys were hit." Venezuelan authorities have not confirmed casualties. The operation drew parallels to Cold War-era interventions, with Trump calling it "an amazing job" and likening it to a television spectacle.
