The United States has revealed fresh details of Operation Absolute Resolve, the covert military mission that led to the dramatic capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores, marking one of Washington’s most audacious interventions in Latin America in decades.

The operation, authorised by President Donald Trump late on Friday night, unfolded in under five hours and involved more than 150 aircraft operating across the Western Hemisphere, alongside elite ground forces, intelligence agencies and law enforcement units.

Trump’s Go-Ahead and Months of Planning

According to General Dan Caine, Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, President Trump gave the final approval at 10:46 pm EST after months of surveillance, rehearsals and inter-agency coordination. Military planners had even built a full-scale replica of Maduro’s fortified Caracas compound to practise entry routes and breach scenarios.

Officials said the mission had been delayed several times to wait for optimal weather and cloud cover, in order to preserve the element of surprise.

Massive Multi-Domain Strike

As the operation began in the early hours of January 2, US forces launched a coordinated assault integrating air, land, sea, space and intelligence capabilities. The aircraft package included F-22s, F-35s, F/A-18s, EA-18 electronic warfare jets, E-2 surveillance planes, B-1 bombers, refuelling tankers and unmanned drones.

US strikes targeted Venezuelan air defences and military installations around Caracas, including La Carlota air base and facilities linked to command and control. Explosions were reported across the capital, while large parts of the city were plunged into darkness. President Trump later claimed that US forces had neutralised power supplies in key areas, saying the raid took place “in total darkness”.

Raid On Maduro’s Compound

At around 2:01 am local time, elite US special forces descended by helicopter into central Caracas. General Caine said the apprehension team moved “with speed, precision and discipline”, isolating the area before breaching reinforced steel doors.

Trump described Maduro’s residence as “a fortress”, adding that troops were prepared to use industrial blowtorches to cut through secure rooms. Maduro, heavily guarded and attempting to reach a safe room, was overpowered within minutes. His wife, Cilia Flores, was also taken into custody. One US helicopter reportedly took fire but remained operational. American officials said some personnel were wounded, but no US service members were killed.

Extraction And Aftermath

By around 4:20 am local time, helicopters carrying Maduro and Flores had exited Venezuelan airspace. Hours later, Trump announced their capture, later posting images of Maduro handcuffed aboard a US military vessel.

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The US Justice Department confirmed that the couple will face narco-terrorism and drug trafficking charges in New York. Trump said the United States would temporarily “run Venezuela” to ensure a “safe and orderly transition”, without offering a timeline.

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The operation has drawn sharp reactions globally, with several countries warning it sets a dangerous precedent. As Venezuela reels from the shock, the political future of the oil-rich nation — and the wider regional fallout — remains uncertain.


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