The United States military successfully captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. Following a complex and meticulously planned operation that spanned several months. This clandestine mission, codenamed 'Absolute Resolve,' involved the coordinated efforts of elite Delta Force units and the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). The capture has sent ripples across the globe, demonstrating the US's capability to execute high-stakes operations against a sitting head of state and transport them to US soil.
Months of Intensive Preparation and Rehearsal
This wasn't an overnight operation but the culmination of months of intensive preparation and careful strategizing. Elite US soldiers, including those from the Delta Force, constructed an exact replica of Maduro's safe house. Within this mock-up, the troops repeatedly practiced their entry tactics, rehearsing how they would breach the heavily fortified residence and apprehend Maduro. Every minute detail was considered and rehearsed to anticipate any potential. Obstacles and minimize the margin for error during the actual operation. This rigorous training ensured that the special forces were prepared for every conceivable scenario, allowing them to execute the mission with precision.
CIA's Crucial Intelligence Gathering
The role of the CIA was paramount to the success of the operation. According to sources, a small team from the CIA had been on the ground in Venezuela since August, meticulously gathering intelligence on Maduro's daily routine. This team provided critical information regarding his schedule, movements, and security protocols. On top of that, the intelligence agency had an agent positioned close to Maduro, who continuously monitored his activities and was ready to provide his exact location once the operation commenced. This precise and timely intelligence proved instrumental in facilitating Maduro's capture, making the task Notably more manageable for the ground forces.
Waiting for Optimal Weather and Final Approval
With all preparations complete, then-President Trump had given his approval for the operation four days prior to its execution, while however, military and intelligence planners advised waiting for better weather conditions and reduced cloud cover. This decision was made to ensure the safety and success of the mission, as adverse weather could have hampered aerial assaults and special forces infiltration. Ultimately, General Dan Kaine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, informed the media that Trump granted final approval for Operation Absolute Resolve at 10:46 PM EST on a Friday. This final green light marked the critical juncture where months of planning transitioned into active execution.
Trump's Live Streaming of the Operation
From his Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Florida, surrounded by his advisors,. President Trump reportedly watched a live stream of all events unfolding in Venezuela. This was an unprecedented situation, with a sitting president observing a high-stakes military operation in real-time, while hours after the mission was completed, Trump appeared on Fox News, stating, “I’ve done some very good things, but I’ve never seen anything like this before. ” This statement underscores his astonishment and pride in the complexity and success of the operation, while the live streaming capability allowed Trump and his team to monitor every phase of the operation and make swift decisions if necessary.
Massive Military Deployment in the Caribbean
Prior to the operation, the Pentagon oversaw a massive military deployment in the Caribbean region, while this deployment included an aircraft carrier, 11 warships, and over a dozen F-35 aircraft. In total, more than 15,000 soldiers were dispatched to the area. US officials had long described this deployment as an anti-drug operation, but it has now become clear that it was an integral part of the larger mission to apprehend Maduro. This formidable display of military power was intended to deter any potential counter-response from Venezuela and ensure the secure execution of the operation.
The Core Team and Continuous Meetings
To plan and execute this intricate operation, a core team was formed, comprising Trump's senior aide Stephen Miller, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, and CIA Director John Ratcliffe, while this team worked on the issue for months, engaging in regular meetings and phone calls. They frequently met with the President to provide updates on the operation's progress and planning. The coordination and dedication of this core team were crucial for the success of the operation, as they ensured easy collaboration across various agencies involved.
In the late hours of Friday and early Saturday morning, leading up to the assault, Trump and his advisors held several meetings, while multiple US aircraft took to the skies, launching attacks on targets in and around Caracas, including several air defense systems, as confirmed by a US military official. General Kaine reported that over 150 aircraft from 20 bases across the Western Hemisphere were involved in the operation, including F-35 and F-22 jets and B-1 bombers, while trump stated, “We had a fighter jet for every conceivable situation. ” The Pentagon had also discreetly deployed air tankers, drones, and electronic jamming aircraft to the area. US officials confirmed that the aerial strikes targeted military installations. Photographs taken by Reuters at La Carlota Air Base in Caracas. Showed burnt Venezuelan anti-aircraft military vehicles, indicating the intensity of these assaults.
Breaching Maduro's Compound and Capture
During the aerial attacks, US Special Forces entered Caracas heavily armed, carrying equipment such as blowtorches, prepared to cut through steel doors if necessary to access Maduro's location. General Kaine stated that around 1 AM EST on Saturday, soldiers reached Maduro's compound in downtown Caracas. They encountered gunfire, and one helicopter was hit but remained operational. Upon reaching Maduro's safe house, the soldiers, accompanied by FBI agents, breached the residence, which Trump described as a “heavily fortified fortress. ” Trump remarked, “They just went in, and they went into places that you really couldn’t go into. You know, steel doors that were put there for that reason. But they were taken out in a matter of seconds. ” This swift and decisive action stands as a testament to the extraordinary capabilities of the US military and the precise application of intelligence.
