Operation Absolute Resolve: Capture of Nicolas Maduro
WASHINGTON, Jan 3 (Reuters) – At 4:21 a.m. on Saturday, President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social that the United States had carried out a bold mission to capture Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife.
The announcement surprised many people. But sources say the mission had been planned quietly for months and was one of the most complex U.S. operations in recent history.
Highly trained U.S. troops, including the Army’s Delta Force, built a full copy of Maduro’s safe house and practiced how to break into the heavily guarded building.
The CIA also helped. Starting in August, a small CIA team studied Maduro’s daily habits. The agency also had someone close to Maduro who tracked his movements and could confirm his exact location during the mission.
Once everything was ready, Trump approved the operation four days earlier. Military and intelligence officials suggested waiting for better weather and clearer skies.
Operation Begins
In the early hours of Saturday, the mission—called Operation Absolute Resolve—began. Trump watched the operation live from his Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Florida, surrounded by his advisers.
Details about how the mission unfolded come from four sources familiar with the operation and from statements made by Trump himself.
“I’ve done some pretty good ones, but I’ve never seen anything like this,” Trump said on Fox News just hours after the mission ended.
A Massive Operation
Before the mission, the Pentagon quietly built up a large military presence in the Caribbean. This included one aircraft carrier, 11 warships, and more than a dozen F-35 fighter jets.
More than 15,000 U.S. troops were sent to the region, officially for anti-drug operations.
According to one source, a core group worked on the plan for months. This group included senior Trump adviser Stephen Miller, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and CIA Director John Ratcliffe.
Late Friday night and into early Saturday, Trump and his advisers stayed together as U.S. aircraft launched strikes on targets inside and around Caracas, including air defense systems.
General Dan Caine said the operation involved more than 150 aircraft flying from 20 bases across the Western Hemisphere, including F-35 and F-22 fighter jets and B-1 bombers.
“We had a fighter jet for every possible situation,” Trump said.
Sources said the Pentagon also moved refueling aircraft, drones, and planes used to block enemy communications into the region.
U.S. officials said the airstrikes hit only military targets. Reuters images showed burned Venezuelan military vehicles at an air base in Caracas.
Raid on Maduro’s Compound
As the airstrikes continued, U.S. Special Forces moved into Caracas. They were heavily armed and carried a blowtorch to cut through steel doors if needed.
Around 1 a.m. EST, the troops reached Maduro’s compound while under fire. One helicopter was hit but remained able to fly.
Videos on social media showed helicopters flying low over the city.
When the troops reached Maduro’s safe house, they entered with help from FBI agents. Trump described the building as a “very highly guarded fortress.”
“They broke in through steel doors that were put there to stop this kind of thing,” Trump said. “They were taken out in seconds.”
Maduro in Custody
Inside the safe house, Maduro and his wife surrendered, according to General Caine.
Trump said Maduro tried to reach a safe room but failed. “They moved so fast he didn’t make it,” Trump said.
Some U.S. troops were injured, but none were killed.
As the operation began, Secretary of State Rubio informed U.S. lawmakers, though officials said this happened after the mission started.
As U.S. forces left Venezuela, they were involved in several self-defense clashes.
By 3:20 a.m. EST, helicopters carrying Maduro and his wife were over the ocean.
Nearly seven hours after announcing the mission, Trump posted again on Truth Social. The post showed Maduro blindfolded, handcuffed, and wearing gray sweatpants.
“Nicolas Maduro on board the USS Iwo Jima,” Trump wrote.