Inside the Operation: How the US Captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro
Caracas, Venezuela — In a high-stakes operation, U.S. Delta Force troops captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro at his Caracas residence in the early hours of January 3, 2026, marking the culmination of months of careful planning by American military and intelligence agencies.
According to officials, the operation — dubbed “Absolute Resolve” — involved extensive coordination between the U.S. military, CIA operatives, and other intelligence assets. The raid was executed under cover of darkness, with helicopters and precision strikes neutralizing security defenses before Maduro and his wife were taken into custody.
President Donald Trump, observing the operation from his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, gave the final approval just before 11 p.m. ET after weeks of planning and rehearsals. The president monitored the mission via live feeds and briefings alongside senior national security officials.
The U.S. has stated that the operation was executed with precision, with no reported civilian casualties. Maduro and his wife were flown to the USS Iwo Jima and subsequently transferred to Stewart Air National Guard Base in New York.
Preparations for the capture had been underway for months, including covert CIA operations inside Venezuela to monitor Maduro’s routines, movements, and security arrangements. Officials emphasized that Maduro had been given opportunities to step down voluntarily prior to the raid.
The capture has left Venezuelans grappling with uncertainty. Streets in Caracas remained largely deserted in the immediate aftermath, with many businesses closed. Residents expressed mixed feelings, ranging from cautious relief to fear over what the U.S. military’s presence might mean for the nation’s future.
In a statement, President Trump indicated that the U.S. would oversee Venezuela temporarily, highlighting potential access to the country’s oil resources while leaving the details of governance vague. Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez condemned the operation, describing it as a “savage attack.”
Experts note that while the operation succeeded in removing Maduro from power, the political, economic, and social consequences for Venezuela remain unclear. Observers around the world are watching closely as the country enters an uncertain chapter in its history.
