In an unprecedented military operation dubbed ‘Operation Absolute Resolve,’ U.S. special forces have captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and First Lady Cilia Flores. The dramatic extraction occurred during early morning hours in Caracas following coordinated strikes on multiple strategic locations across Venezuela’s capital region.
President Donald Trump confirmed the operation during a Saturday news conference, revealing that Delta Force operatives successfully infiltrated Maduro’s fortified compound at 02:01 local time (06:01 GMT). The mission, which involved over 150 aircraft and months of planning, resulted in the capture of the Venezuelan leader without U.S. casualties.
The operation triggered explosions at key military installations including Fuerte Tiuna military base, Generalissimo Francisco de Miranda Air Base, and critical infrastructure sites in Miranda state. Venezuelan authorities reported strikes on civilian areas and deployed armed forces under a national emergency declaration.
Maduro and Flores have been transported to Stewart Air National Guard Base in New York and face multiple federal charges in the Southern District of New York, including conspiracy to commit narco-terrorism and weapons offenses. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi stated the couple would ‘face the full wrath of American justice.’
International reactions have been sharply divided. Russia, China, Iran, and several Latin American nations condemned the operation as violation of sovereignty, while the UK expressed support for Maduro’s removal. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed alarm at the potential precedent-setting nature of the military action.
Trump announced that the U.S. would temporarily ‘run’ Venezuela to facilitate a transition, with American oil companies expected to enter the country. The operation follows years of tensions between the nations, with the U.S. accusing Maduro of direct involvement in drug trafficking and designating Venezuelan groups as Foreign Terrorist Organizations.