In a stunning and unprecedented military action, the United States successfully captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife in a complex, hours-long raid on Caracas. The operation, authorized by President Donald Trump, culminated in the early hours of Saturday, January 3rd, following months of meticulous planning.
Months of Meticulous Planning
The mission, codenamed Operation Absolute Resolve, was one of the most intricate U.S. military endeavors in recent history. According to sources familiar with the operation, planning had been underway for months, involving a core team of senior officials. This group included senior aide Stephen Miller, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and CIA Director John Ratcliffe, who held regular, sometimes daily, meetings.
Elite U.S. troops, including the Army's renowned Delta Force, prepared by constructing an exact replica of Maduro's fortified safe house to rehearse their assault. Intelligence was critical to the mission's success. A small CIA team had been on the ground in Venezuela since August, studying Maduro's patterns. Furthermore, the agency had an asset close to the Venezuelan leader who was ready to pinpoint his exact location during the operation.
President Trump approved the mission four days prior, but planners advised a delay for clearer weather. The final authorization came from Trump at 10:46 p.m. EST on Friday from his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida, where he and his advisors watched a live feed of the events.
A Massive Military Buildup and Daring Assault
The operation was supported by a significant, though discreet, military mobilization in the Caribbean. The Pentagon had deployed an aircraft carrier, 11 warships, over a dozen F-35 fighter jets, and more than 15,000 troops under the guise of anti-drug operations. Over 150 aircraft were launched from 20 bases across the Western Hemisphere, including F-22 jets and B-1 bombers.
As U.S. aircraft struck air defense systems and other military targets in and around Caracas just after midnight, heavily armed Special Forces teams moved into the city. Social media videos captured by residents showed a convoy of helicopters flying at low altitude over the capital.
Around 1 a.m. EST on Saturday, troops arrived at Maduro's downtown compound under fire. One helicopter was hit but remained operational. The forces, accompanied by FBI agents, breached the residence, which Trump later described as a "fortress" with steel doors. "They got taken out in a matter of seconds," the President remarked.
Capture and Aftermath
Once inside, Maduro and his wife quickly surrendered. Trump stated that Maduro attempted to reach a safe room but was overwhelmed before he could secure the door. Some U.S. personnel were injured during the mission, but there were no fatalities.
As the extraction unfolded, Secretary Rubio began notifying key U.S. lawmakers, though these alerts came after the operation had commenced, deviating from customary oversight protocols. The troops faced "multiple self-defense engagements" as they exited Venezuelan airspace. By 3:20 a.m. EST, the helicopters were over water with the captives onboard.
Nearly seven hours after his initial post, President Trump shared a photograph on his Truth Social platform at 4:21 a.m. showing a blindfolded and handcuffed Nicolas Maduro wearing grey sweatpants. The caption read, "Nicolas Maduro on board the USS Iwo Jima," confirming the successful conclusion of the daring raid.
