In a stunning revelation, the United States has unveiled intricate details of a covert military mission of unprecedented scale that culminated in the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. Senior officials described an operation of immense precision, involving over 150 aircraft coordinated across the Western Hemisphere.
The Audacious Night Raid
According to General Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the mission, codenamed Operation Absolute Resolve, was executed in the early hours of January 2nd. President Donald Trump gave the final green light at 10:46 PM Eastern Time. General Caine hailed it as an audacious feat, integrating air, ground, maritime, space, and intelligence capabilities on a rarely seen scale.
The formidable air armada included advanced fighter jets like F-22s, F-35s, and F-18s, alongside EA-18s, E-2s, B-1 bombers, support aircraft, and numerous drones. The apprehension force descended onto Maduro's compound in Caracas at 1:01 AM EST (2:01 AM local time), moving with what officials described as remarkable speed and discipline to isolate the area.
Unprecedented Coordination and Precision
General Caine emphasized that the mission's core was an exceptionally precise extraction plan. "An extraction so precise it involved more than 150 aircraft launching across the Western Hemisphere in close coordination, all coming together in time and place to layer effects for a single purpose," he stated. That purpose was to insert an interdiction force into downtown Caracas while maintaining tactical surprise.
The operation relied on the combined efforts of soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines, and guardians, working seamlessly with intelligence agencies like the CIA, NSA, and NGA. Caine noted that failure of any single component would have jeopardized the entire mission, underscoring the high stakes.
Political Fallout and Aftermath
President Trump, speaking from Mar-a-Lago and in Fox News interviews, lavished praise on the military. He claimed the raid occurred under darkness, with the lights of Caracas largely off, making it "dark and deadly." Trump revealed that US forces had rehearsed on a full-scale replica of Maduro's heavily guarded palace fortress.
The assault reportedly lasted less than 30 minutes, with at least seven explosions heard across the capital. While Venezuelan officials reported civilian and military casualties, Trump stated only "a couple of guys were hit" on the US side, with no American fatalities or equipment losses.
In the immediate aftermath, President Trump announced that the United States would assume control of Venezuela to facilitate a "safe, proper and judicious transition," though no specific timetable was provided. The US Justice Department confirmed that Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, now face narco-terrorism charges in American courts.
