U.S. Forces Capture Venezuelan President Maduro
President Trump announced that U.S. forces had conducted a large-scale strike in Venezuela, capturing President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Flores, and were transporting them to New York to face drug and weapons charges.
Trump said the United States would govern Venezuela “until such time that we can do a safe, proper and judicious transition.” He provided few details on how the country would be administered, saying only that it would be overseen by “a group,” and added that he was not opposed to deploying “boots on the ground.”
According to people briefed on the operation, American special operations forces captured Maduro with the help of a C.I.A. source within the Venezuelan government who had tracked his location in recent days. Trump said in a Fox News interview that Maduro and Flores were taken aboard the U.S.S. Iwo Jima, a U.S. warship operating in the Caribbean, before being flown to New York.
Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said the military mission—named “Absolute Resolve”—was launched at the request of the Justice Department. Caine said U.S. warplanes disabled Venezuelan air defenses, allowing helicopters to enter Caracas, and that one aircraft was struck but remained operational. The operation involved 150 aircraft launched across the hemisphere, one of the most detailed accounts the U.S. government has released.
“He continued, ‘Overhead, the forces were safeguarded by aircraft from the United States Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, and Air National Guard. The aerial lineup included F-22s, F-35s, F-18s, EA-18s, E-2s, B-1 bombers, and other support aircraft, along with numerous remotely piloted drones.’”
Trump said the Venezuelan military “knew we were coming” and was swiftly overwhelmed. He said no American service members were killed, although he had earlier suggested there were casualties.
The operation began in the pre-dawn hours around 2 a.m., with multiple explosions reported in Caracas and surrounding areas. Residents saw low-flying aircraft, marking the start of what officials called kinetic operations. By 4:17 a.m., Trump announced on social media that Maduro and his wife had been captured and flown out of the country.
Trump described Maduro as “highly guarded” in a presidential palace “like a fortress,” though he never reached a safe room. U.S. forces were equipped with “massive blowtorches” to cut through steel walls if necessary. “It had what they call a safety space, where it’s solid steel all around,” Trump said. “He didn’t get that space closed. He was trying to get into it, but he got bum-rushed so fast that he didn’t make it. We were prepared.”
“Caine said, ‘We arrived at Maduro’s compound at 1:01 a.m. Eastern Standard Time, or 2:01 a.m. local time in Caracas. The apprehension team moved into the compound with speed, precision, and discipline, securing the area to ensure the safety of the ground force while apprehending the indicted individuals.
“He added, ‘Upon entering the target area, the helicopters came under fire and returned it with overwhelming force in self-defense. One aircraft was hit but remained flyable. As the president noted earlier, all aircraft returned safely, and the damaged aircraft stayed operational for the remainder of the mission.’
Caine told reporters that Maduro and his wife then surrendered and were taken into custody by the Justice Department, with no U.S. personnel casualties.
‘After securing the indicted individuals, the force prepared to depart. Helicopters were called in to extract the team, while fighter jets and remotely piloted aircraft provided overhead coverage and suppressive fire. Multiple self-defense engagements occurred as the force withdrew from Venezuela,’ he added.”
Preparation included practicing maneuvers on a full-scale replica of the building. “They actually built a house identical to the one they went into,” Trump added.
The operation took place in darkness, with Trump claiming that almost all the lights in Caracas were turned off. “This thing was so organized. They went into a dark space with machine guns facing them all over the place,” he said. At least seven explosions were reported, and the entire attack lasted less than 30 minutes.
Trump said a few U.S. personnel were injured during the operation, but he believed no one was killed. “A couple of guys were hit, but they came back and they’re supposed to be in pretty good shape,” he said. He added that no aircraft were lost, though one helicopter was “hit pretty hard.” “We had to do it because it’s a war,” Trump said.
Weather delayed the mission
Trump said the operation had been postponed for several days while waiting for cloud cover to clear. “The weather has to be perfect. We waited four days… and then all of a sudden it opened up and we said, go. It was just amazing,” he said.
Maduro’s current location
Trump said Maduro and Flores were flown by helicopter to a U.S. warship before being transported to New York to face charges. The Justice Department released an indictment accusing the pair of an alleged role in a narco-terrorism conspiracy.
Months of escalating actions
The raid marked a significant escalation from a series of U.S. strikes on vessels accused of transporting drugs in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean since early September. At least 35 strikes had been carried out, reportedly killing 115 people. On Dec. 29, Trump said the U.S. struck a facility where drug-laden boats were loaded, with the CIA conducting a drone strike at a docking area allegedly used by Venezuelan drug cartels. This was the first known direct U.S. operation on Venezuelan soil since the strikes began in September..
