At a Glance
- Maduro captured by U.S. forces overnight.
- Trump announced operation called “Absolute Resolve.”
- Maduro and wife flown to U.S. warship.
- Why it matters: The raid marks a major escalation in U.S. involvement in Venezuela and signals potential U.S. control over the country.
President Trump announced that U.S. forces had captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife in an overnight raid, calling it “Absolute Resolve.” The operation, which involved a covert infiltration and swift extraction to a U.S. warship, marks a dramatic escalation in U.S. involvement in Venezuela.
Operation Details
The raid took place Saturday night, with U.S. forces infiltrating Caracas under darkness. The operation was rehearsed for months, including building a replica of Maduro’s presidential compound. Trump said the forces held off until cloud cover cleared, allowing low-altitude helicopters to enter.
- Covert infiltration under darkness
- Replica building used for rehearsals
- Low-altitude helicopters entered once clouds lifted
- Extraction to U.S. warship within less than 30 minutes
President Trump announced:
> He didn’t get that space closed. He was trying to get into it, but he got bum-rushed right so fast that he didn’t get into that.
Gen. Dan Caine stated:
> We think, we develop, we train, we rehearse, we debrief, we rehearse again, and again.
President Trump added:
> They actually built a house which was identical to the one they went into with all the same, all that steel all over the place.
Gen. Dan Caine said:
> The weather broke just enough, clearing a path that only the most skilled aviators in the world could move through.
President Trump continued:
> The lights of Caracas were largely turned off due to a certain expertise that we have.
Reactions
Vice President Delcy Rodríguez said some civilians and military were killed. Maduro and his wife were flown to a U.S. warship and will face charges in New York. Trump said the U.S. will direct the path forward and may have boots on the ground.
- Vice President Rodríguez claimed civilian casualties
- Maduro to be extradited to the U.S.
- U.S. may maintain boots on the ground
- U.S. intends to run Venezuela until a new leader is chosen
Vice President Delcy Rodríguez declared:
> We demand that the U.S. free Maduro and call him the country’s rightful leader.
President Trump said:
> We are not afraid of boots on the ground if we have to.
President Trump added:
> We had boots on the ground last night.
President Trump further stated:
> We’re going to make sure that country is run properly. We’re not doing this in vain.
Background
The raid follows U.S. strikes on alleged drug-carrying boats since September and a drone strike on a docking area on Dec 29. Trump had warned of potential strikes in Venezuela. The operation escalated from earlier maritime actions.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| September | U.S. strikes on drug-carrying boats |
| Dec 29 | Drone strike on docking area |
| Saturday | Overnight raid capturing Maduro |
Key Takeaways
- Maduro and his wife captured and flown to the U.S.
- Operation lasted less than 30 minutes and involved low-altitude helicopters.
- U.S. may maintain boots on the ground and intends to run Venezuela until a new leader is chosen.
The raid marks a dramatic escalation in U.S. involvement in Venezuela, with the president announcing a plan to oversee the country’s governance until a new leader is selected.
