The United States, early morning Saturday, conducted a large-scale military operation in Venezuela, capturing President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, in a nighttime raid on Caracas. President Donald Trump announced the operation, dubbed "Absolute Resolve," saying that the couple had been apprehended by Delta Force soldiers and FBI agents and were being flown to New York to face charges related to narco-terrorism and cocaine importation.
Trump declared at a press conference, that the U.S. would "run" Venezuela until a "safe and proper and judicious transition" could be arranged, emphasizing the role of American oil companies in rebuilding the country’s infrastructure.
The operation, planned for months with CIA agents reportedly on the ground since August in Venezuela, involved over 150 aircraft and was executed at about 2:01 a.m. local time, with U.S. forces entering Maduro’s fortified compound under blackout conditions.
General Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, confirmed that the mission was delayed by four days due to adverse weather and that the operation was conducted with minimal U.S. casualties, though a few troops sustained injuries and one aircraft was hit but remained flyable. The raid targeted key locations including La Carlota airfield, Fuerte Tiuna military base, and Higuerote Airport.
According to Caine, "Over the course of the night, aircraft began launching from 20 different bases on land and sea across the Western Hemisphere. In total, more than 150 aircraft, bombers, fighters, intelligence, reconnaissance, surveillance, rotary wing, were in the air last night.
"Our youngest crew member was 20 and our oldest crew member was 49. And there's simply no match for American military might. As the night began, the helicopters took off with the extraction force, which included law enforcement officers, and began their flight into Venezuela at 100 feet above the water. As they approached Venezuelan shores, the United States began layering different effects provided by SPACECOM, CYBERCOM, and other members of the inter-agency to create a pathway.
"Overhead, those forces were protected from aircraft- were protected by aircraft from the United States Marines, the United States Navy, the United States Air Force, and the Air National Guard. The force included F-22s, F-35s, F-18s, EA-18s, E-2s, B-1 bombers, and other support aircraft, as well as numerous remotely piloted drones. As the force began to approach Caracas, the joint air component began dismantling and disabling the air defense systems in Venezuela, employing weapons to ensure the safe passage of the helicopters into the target area.
"The goal of our air component is, was, and always will be to protect the helicopters and the ground force, and get them to the target, and get them home. As the force crossed the last point of high terrain where they'd been hiding in the clutter, we assessed that we had maintained totally the element of surprise. As the helicopter force ingressed towards the objective at low level, we arrived at Maduro's compound at 1:01 AM Eastern Standard Time, or 2:01 AM Caracas local time, and the apprehension force descended into Maduro's compound and moved with speed, precision, and discipline towards their objective, and isolated the area to ensure the safety and security of the ground force while apprehending the indicted persons.
"On arrival into the target area, the helicopters came under fire and they replied with that fire with overwhelming force in self-defense. One of our aircraft was hit, but remained flyable, and as the President said earlier today, all of our aircraft came home. And that aircraft remained flyable during the rest of the mission. As the operation unfolded at the compound, our air and ground intelligence teams provided real-time updates to the ground force, ensuring those forces could safely navigate the complex environment without unnecessary risk.
"The force remained protected by overhead tactical aviation. Maduro and his wife, both indicted, gave up and were taken into custody by the Department of Justice, assisted by our incredible US military with professionalism and precision, with, with no loss of US life. After securing the indicted persons, the force began to prep for departure."
At the press conference at Mar-a-Lago, Florida, Trump said that the U.S. would manage Venezuela’s governance, asserting that the country would be rebuilt with American companies and that the wealth extracted from its oil would benefit both Venezuelans and the U.S. as reimbursement for damages. He claimed that Vice President Delcy Rodríguez had been sworn in and was cooperating with U.S. officials.
Rodríguez appeared on state television demanding proof of life for Maduro and his wife, calling the U.S. action an "extremely serious military aggression" and affirming that Maduro was the "only president" of Venezuela. She rejected the idea of Venezuela becoming a colony and called for national unity and resistance.
"An attack of this nature undoubtedly has a Zionist tinge... the defense decree is now activated, all of Venezuela is mobilized," Rodríguez said. "There is only one President in this country, and his name is Nicolás Maduro Moros," and added that she was only acting as the executive authority in Maduro’s absence.
The new president said that Venezuela would only engage with the U.S. on terms of respect and within the framework of both international and Venezuelan law, stating, “That is the only type of relationship I will accept, after they have attacked and militarily assaulted our beloved nation.”
Maduro was indicted in 2020 by the U.S. Southern District of New York on charges of narco-terrorism, cocaine importation, and weapons conspiracy, allegedly leading the Cartel de los Soles. The U.S. had offered a $50 million reward for his arrest and had previously conducted strikes on drug-trafficking vessels in the Caribbean.
Operation Absolute Resolve follows months of escalating tensions, including a blockade of Venezuelan oil tankers and a CIA drone strike on a coastal port facility in December 2025.
The attack prompted an urgent UN Security Council meeting requested by Venezuela. European leaders, including German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron, welcomed Maduro’s capture, calling it a step toward ending a dictatorship.
However, Latin American nations, Russia, and Iran condemned the strike as a violation of sovereignty and international law. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer called for clarification, emphasizing adherence to international law.
The future of Venezuela remains unclear. While the constitution mandates that Rodríguez assume leadership, her current status and allegiance are uncertain. Trump declined to endorse opposition leader Edmundo González Urrutia, despite support from Nobel Peace Prize winner María Corina Machado, stating she lacked respect within Venezuela.
