US military captures Maduro following spectacular special operation in Venezuela

In a joint-force operation in the early hours of Saturday, American special operations units captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife at their compound in Caracas, the country’s capital, and transported them out of the country.

The two were taken via helicopter to the USS Iwo Jima; they then will be taken to New York were they had been indicted for narco-terrorism conspiracy and cocaine importation conspiracy, among others.

Maduro had been designated as a member of a foreign terrorist organization by the U.S. since November. A warrant of $50 million had been issued for information leading to his arrest.

“Late last night, and early today, at my direction, the US Armed Forces conducted an extraordinary military operation in the capital of Venezuela. Overwhelming military power, air land and sea, was used to launch a spectacular assault, and it was an assault like people haven’t seen since World War II,” President Trump said in a live press conference this morning.

There were no American casualties and no American equipment was destroyed in the combined military and law enforcement operation, the U.S. leadership said.

The capture was reportedly carried out by Delta Force operators who were transported to Caracas by the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, otherwise known as “Night Stalkers,” the Army’s elite rotary aviation unit. Throughout the operation, the Night Stalkers were supported F-22s, F-35s, EA-18G Growlers, E-2s, F-18s, B-1 bombers and unmanned aerial systems.

U.S. RQ-170 stealth drone returning to Puerto Rico this morning.

This is immensely rare footage of the drone, spotted after supporting US strikes on Venezuela last night. pic.twitter.com/XQFpWyIjiW
— OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) January 3, 2026

The operation, dubbed “Operation Absolute Resolve” was a “culmination of months of planning and rehearsal” Chairman of the Joints Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine said at the press conference.

The operation required “every component of the joint force” and leveraged the work of various intelligence agencies “including the CIA, NSA, and NGA,” General Caine added. It followed months of intelligence collected about Maduro and his daily patterns.

Preparations for Operation Absolute Resolve were completed by early December and the military awaited presidential orders and conducive weather to carry it out. It was “key” to choose a day that would minimize the chances of civilian harm – including to Maduro and his wife – and maximize the element of surprise, Caine said.

Caine highlighted the complexity of the mission saying that it required over 150 aircraft in total that launched from 20 different bases across the Western Hemisphere.

The extraction force, which included law enforcement personnel, flew to Venezuela at 100 feet above the water to avoid detection.

As the helicopters approached the country, the military deployed cyber and kinetic means to take down Venezuelan communications and air defenses and allow the helicopters to reach Maduro’s compound.

American Chinook helicopters fly over Caracas, Venezuela against a backdrop of air strikes.
This should definitely secure that elusive Nobel Peace Prize for Trump. pic.twitter.com/IqLCMo9htB
— Roy (@GrandpaRoy2) January 3, 2026

Reportedly, two Venezuelan military bases and a communication site in Caracas were hit along with the country’s main port and an airbase in the country’s Miranda state.

Images have surfaced online of destroyed Venezuelan air defenses in Caracas.

The helicopters came under fire upon arriving at the target area and replied with overwhelming fire, General Caine said. Only one helicopter was hit, but remained flyable, and was able to return safely to base.

Venezuela had Russian S-300VMs anti-ballistic missile systems, S-125s surface-to-air missile systems, BuK M2Es air defense systems, hundreds of Zu-23s anti-aircraft cannons, and thousands of Manpads; they all proved completely ineffective in stopping the American force.

According to Trump, Delta Force entered Maduro’s compound and after intense fighting captured the Venezuelan president and his wife. Maduro was apprehended just as he was about to enter his compound’s safehouse, president Trump said.

Nicolas Maduro has been president Venezuela since 2013. However, his 2018 election win was condemned as fraudulent by neighboring countries, the Organization of American States, the EU, and the United States. His 2024 win was likewise widely condemned with many claiming that the opposition had won a landslide victory.

Venezuela’s vice president has reportedly fled to Russia. Trump said that the U.S. will help administer the country for the time being and is already in talks with local actors to do so.

Feature Image: Photo reportedly showing Maduro being transported to the USS Iwo Jima. (X)

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