In a stunning military operation on January 3, 2026, U.S. special forces captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, from their fortified compound in Caracas. The mission, codenamed Operation Absolute Resolve, involved over 150 aircraft, months of intelligence gathering, and precise execution that resulted in no American fatalities. President Donald Trump announced the success early that morning, later sharing a photo of the captive leader aboard a U.S. warship.
The operation marked a dramatic escalation in U.S. efforts to address longstanding indictments against Maduro for narco-terrorism and drug trafficking. Maduro, who has led Venezuela since 2013 amid economic collapse and international isolation, faces federal charges in New York alongside his wife. The raid drew comparisons to historical U.S. interventions, such as the 1989 capture of Panamanian leader Manuel Noriega, but on a larger scale with advanced stealth technology and real-time oversight.
Planning for Operation Absolute Resolve began months earlier, involving coordinated efforts from the CIA, NSA, and military intelligence agencies. U.S. officials meticulously tracked Maduro's daily routines, including his sleeping locations, diet, clothing preferences, and even details about his pets. A key human intelligence source within the Venezuelan government provided critical real-time updates on his whereabouts. Elite troops, including Army Delta Force operators, rehearsed the raid using a full-scale replica of Maduro's compound to perfect entry routes and contingencies.
By early December 2025, forces were positioned across the Western Hemisphere, awaiting optimal conditions. President Trump gave final approval at 10:46 p.m. ET on Friday, January 2, 2026, after weather cleared for safe helicopter insertion. The mission unfolded in the pre-dawn hours of Saturday, local time in Caracas.
A massive air component launched first, comprising F-22 and F-35 stealth fighters, F/A-18 jets, EA-18 electronic warfare aircraft, E-2 early warning planes, B-1 bombers, drones, and support assets from over 20 bases. These forces struck Venezuelan air defense systems, including sites at Fuerte Tiuna, the country's largest military complex in Caracas, to clear a path and ensure tactical surprise. Satellite imagery later showed significant damage to these installations.
Helicopters from the Army's 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, flying low at about 100 feet above the water to evade radar, carried the extraction team—Delta Force commandos accompanied by FBI and DEA agents for the formal arrest. The force descended on Maduro's residence within Fuerte Tiuna shortly after 1:01 a.m. ET (2:01 a.m. local time). Brief firefights ensued; helicopters came under ground fire, with one sustaining damage but remaining operational. U.S. forces responded with suppressive fire from drones and fighters, engaging in what officials described as "self-defense" actions.
Inside the compound, troops navigated quickly using real-time intelligence. Reports indicate Maduro and Flores were apprehended in their bedroom, with the couple offering no significant resistance after an initial attempt by Maduro to reach a steel-reinforced safe room. Elite operators were prepared with blowtorches to breach metal doors if needed, though explosives sufficed for entry. The entire ground phase lasted minutes, minimizing risks to civilians.
By 3:29 a.m. ET, the extraction helicopters were safely over international waters, having evaded further threats. Maduro and Flores were transferred to the USS Iwo Jima, a U.S. Navy amphibious assault ship in the Caribbean. Trump later posted a photo on Truth Social showing Maduro blindfolded, handcuffed, in gray sweatpants and a fleece, holding a water bottle—captioned "Nicolas Maduro on board the USS Iwo Jima."
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine briefed the operation during a press conference at Mar-a-Lago alongside Trump on January 3. Caine emphasized the mission's precision: "We think, we develop, we train, we rehearse, we debrief, we rehearse again, and again." He confirmed no U.S. equipment losses and no fatalities, though some reports noted minor injuries to personnel.
Trump hailed the operation as "one of the most stunning, effective and powerful displays of American military might," stating the U.S. would temporarily "run" Venezuela to facilitate a transition and secure oil resources. This drew international criticism, with Venezuelan officials condemning it as aggression and some allies questioning legality.
The raid's success relied on overwhelming air superiority, human intelligence, and special operations expertise, avoiding the prolonged conflicts of past interventions. As Maduro awaits trial, Venezuela faces uncertainty, with opposition figures like María Corina Machado cautiously responding amid celebrations in exile communities.
