In a dramatic escalation of tensions, the United States executed a high-stakes military operation aimed at capturing Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. The attack, which occurred early Saturday, resulted in significant casualties and has sent shockwaves through international relations.
Months of Meticulous Planning for Operation Absolute Resolve
The mission, codenamed Operation Absolute Resolve, was not a spontaneous act but the culmination of extensive preparation spanning several months. According to reports, elite US forces, including the Army's renowned Delta Force, constructed a full-scale replica of President Maduro's safe house to rehearse breaching the heavily fortified compound.
Intelligence gathering was a cornerstone of the plan. Beginning in August, a covert CIA team operated on the ground in Venezuela, meticulously documenting Maduro's daily routines and movements to establish his "pattern of life." This surveillance made his potential capture appear straightforward to planners. The CIA also reportedly depended on an asset within Maduro's inner circle who was prepared to pinpoint his exact location as the operation unfolded.
High-Level Authorization and Final Execution
A core group of senior Trump administration officials, including adviser Stephen Miller, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and CIA Director John Ratcliffe, worked on the operation for months, holding frequent, sometimes daily, meetings. They regularly briefed President Trump.
Despite advice from military and intelligence officials to delay due to poor weather, President Trump authorized the mission. The final approval was issued at 10:46 pm EST on Friday by Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine. The attack itself lasted less than 30 minutes, with witnesses reporting at least seven explosions targeting military infrastructure.
Scale of the Attack and Mounting Casualties
The US military deployment was massive. Officials stated that over the course of the night, more than 150 aircraft were involved, including bombers, fighter jets, and surveillance planes. The Pentagon had directed a large-scale buildup in the Caribbean, deploying:
- An aircraft carrier
- 11 warships
- More than a dozen F-35 fighter jets
- Over 15,000 US troops to the region
A senior Venezuelan official told The New York Times that preliminary reports indicate at least 40 people were killed in the attack, a toll that includes both military personnel and civilians.
Background of Escalating US-Venezuela Conflict
This attack did not occur in a vacuum. It followed months of increasing pressure from the Trump administration, which had significantly boosted its naval presence off South America. Since early September, the US had conducted deadly strikes on vessels suspected of drug smuggling in the eastern Pacific and Caribbean.
Just last week, a CIA drone strike hit Venezuelan soil at a docking area allegedly used by drug cartels. By Friday, the administration stated that 35 such strikes had occurred, resulting in at least 115 deaths. The US has consistently framed these actions, including the troop deployment, as part of counter-narcotics missions.
The execution of Operation Absolute Resolve marks a severe intensification in the conflict between the United States and Venezuela, with profound implications for regional stability and international law.
