Caracas, Venezuela, 04 January (H.S.): United States elite forces executed Operation Absolute Resolve on January 3, 2026, capturing Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, in a meticulously orchestrated overnight assault on Caracas that neutralized air defenses and breached a fortified safe house.

President Donald Trump, observing the raid via live feed from his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida, flanked by CIA Director John Ratcliffe, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and senior aide Stephen Miller, likened the spectacle to watching a television show for its speed and precision, confirming no American fatalities despite minor injuries and damage to one helicopter.

Meticulous Preparation

Intelligence operations commenced in August 2025, with a CIA team tracking Maduro's daily routines, including sleep patterns, meals, attire, and even pets, augmented by an asset close to the regime for real-time location data.

Army Delta Force operators constructed an exact full-scale replica of Maduro's safe house within Caracas's Fuerte Tiuna military complex, rehearsing breaches of steel doors and fortified barriers using blowtorches and specialized tools over months of planning.

Trump authorized the mission four days prior but delayed for optimal weather with reduced cloud cover, ensuring maximal surprise amid a Pentagon-led buildup of over 15,000 troops, an aircraft carrier, 11 warships, F-35 jets, refueling tankers, drones, and electronic jamming aircraft in the Caribbean.

The Raid Unfolds

At 22:46 EDT on January 2—approximately 02:46 local time in Caracas on January 3—over 150 U.S. aircraft, including bombers, fighters, and reconnaissance planes, launched from 20 regional bases, striking key targets like La Carlota airfield, Fuerte Tiuna, Generalissimo Francisco de Miranda Air Base, and Port La Guaira to dismantle air defenses and infrastructure.

Cyber operations complemented the assault, plunging parts of Caracas into darkness as explosions echoed through the capital, with witnesses reporting low-flying helicopter convoys, plumes of smoke, and power outages.

Delta Force teams, supported by FBI agents, infiltrated the fortress-like compound by 02:01 local time, overpowering guards who anticipated the attack; Maduro attempted flight to a safe room but was bum-rushed before securing it.

Extraction and Aftermath

Maduro and Flores were swiftly secured and helicoptered to the USS Iwo Jima amphibious assault ship, then transported to New York by Saturday afternoon to face longstanding U.S. charges of narco-terrorism, cocaine importation, and ties to the Cartel de los Soles and FARC, backed by a $50 million reward.

Trump announced the success on Truth Social at 4:21 a.m. Saturday, declaring the U.S. would run Venezuela for now to facilitate a safe, proper, and judicious transition, harnessing oil reserves for reconstruction while Venezuelan officials decried it as a kidnapping and mobilized defenses.

Congressional Democrats, including Senate Leader Chuck Schumer, criticized the lack of prior notification to avert leaks, amid international condemnation from Brazil and others.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar