The U.S. military executed a ground operation in Venezuela on the 3rd, resulting in the arrest and transportation of President Nicolás Maduro and his spouse. During a press conference held at Mar-a-Lago, Florida, on the same day, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine provided details about the operation, stating, “This operation, carried out with caution and precision, was the result of months of planning and training.” He emphasized that “it is an operation that only the U.S. military could execute.” The mission was named Operation Absolute Resolve.
Caine highlighted the extensive coordination involved, explaining, “More than 150 aerial assets were mobilized across the Western Hemisphere under close coordination. We selected the appropriate day to minimize civilian casualties and maximize the element of surprise, ensuring justice was served.” According to reports, the U.S. military had been monitoring Maduro’s movements for months, conducting rehearsals prior to the actual operation.
According to The Wall Street Journal (WSJ), the Delta Force, the U.S. Army’s elite unit, and the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, known as the “Night Stalkers,” were responsible for the arrest. This regiment previously transported Navy SEALs to Pakistan during the 2011 operation that led to the killing of Osama bin Laden. Caine noted that inter-agency collaboration began months ago, stating, “A joint task force comprising Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps personnel had to cooperate seamlessly with intelligence and law enforcement partners through an unprecedented operation.”
He added, “Over the past two decades, our special operations forces’ technology has become more sophisticated, and this operation was meticulously planned, drawing lessons from decades of experience. It was a bold operation that only the U.S. could execute, requiring the highest precision and integration. More than 150 aircraft across the Western Hemisphere took off in close coordination, with all elements perfectly synchronized in time and space toward a single objective.”
Caine detailed the preparation process, stating, “Intelligence officers tracked Maduro for months, identifying his movement routes, residences, travel destinations, dietary habits, clothing, and even pets.” He explained, “Since early December, our units were on standby awaiting a series of linked events.” The timing was chosen to minimize civilian casualties and maximize surprise, with Caine noting, “For weeks after Christmas and New Year’s, U.S. service members waited patiently in readiness until the president’s order was given.”
At approximately 10:46 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST) on the 2nd, U.S. President Donald Trump ordered the operation. Caine stated, “Throughout the night, aircraft took off from 20 land and sea bases across the Western Hemisphere, with more than 150 taking to the skies.” The youngest crew member was 20 years old, and the oldest was 49.
The operation involved a variety of aircraft, including F-18, F-22, and F-35 fighter jets, B-1 bombers, EA-18 electronic warfare aircraft, E-2 early-warning aircraft, and multiple remotely piloted drones. Caine explained, “As the unit approached Caracas, the Air Force dismantled and neutralized Venezuela’s air defense systems, using weapons to ensure helicopters could safely enter the target area.” They arrived at Maduro’s safe house at approximately 1:01 a.m. on the 3rd.
Caine added, “After sealing off the area to ensure the safety and security of ground forces, the arrest team moved swiftly and disciplined toward the target. During this process, helicopters came under attack but responded defensively with overwhelming firepower.” One aircraft was hit but “remained flight-worthy, and as the president stated, all aircraft returned.” There were no U.S. military casualties.
Trump shared a photo of the detained Maduro on his social media platform, Truth Social, showing him in a gray Nike-branded training suit. CNN reported, “The U.S. military dragged Maduro and his spouse out of their bedroom while they were sleeping in the middle of the night.” Trump stated that Maduro attempted to flee to a ‘safe room’ with thick steel doors but “the U.S. military acted swiftly, preventing that. He reached the door but couldn’t close it.”
The U.S. military, under the cover of fighter jets and drones, evacuated the area by helicopter, returning to Venezuelan territory at 3:29 a.m. the same day. Reuters reported that the U.S. military created a replica of Maduro’s safe house to practice infiltration methods. Trump approved the CIA’s internal Venezuela operation in August, with the CIA dispatching a small team to monitor Maduro’s movements and possessing intelligence assets to pinpoint his exact location.
