In an unprecedented military operation codenamed “Operation Absolute Resolve,” United States forces successfully captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores during a meticulously planned dawn raid on Saturday. The operation, which culminated months of strategic planning, lasted approximately 150 minutes from execution to extraction.
The assault commenced at approximately 02:00 local time (06:00 GMT) with coordinated airstrikes targeting key military installations in Caracas, including Fuerte Tiuna—Venezuela’s largest military complex and residential compound for high-ranking officials. US forces implemented a citywide power blackout described by former President Donald Trump as “dark and deadly,” effectively disabling Venezuelan air defenses and creating optimal conditions for the insertion of special operations units.
Elite Delta Force troops penetrated the fortified compound at 02:01 local time, encountering minimal resistance during the apprehension. According to General Dan Caine, the nation’s highest-ranking military officer, the Maduros “gave up” without struggle as they attempted to reach a secured safe room characterized by Trump as a military “fortress” with “very thick, very heavy” steel doors.
Visual documentation from the operation reveals extensive structural damage at Fuerte Tiuna, with bombed-out buildings and charred vehicles visible throughout the complex. Military helicopters faced anti-aircraft fire during the insertion but sustained no critical damage according to official reports.
The captured leaders were immediately transported via helicopter to the USS Iwo Jima stationed in the Caribbean, achieving extraction “over the water” by 04:29 local time. Distributed images show Maduro in custody wearing handcuffs, ear protection, and specialized eyewear resembling darkened sunglasses.
Following initial processing at Guantánamo Bay’s naval facility, the detainees were transferred to Stewart Air National Guard Base in New York before concluding their journey via helicopter to Manhattan. The couple now faces multiple federal charges including conspiracy to commit narco-terrorism, cocaine importation, and weapons violations. They remain held at a New York detention facility adjacent to Federal Bureau of Prisons headquarters under maximum security protocols.
Attorney General Pam Bondi confirmed the detainees will “face the full wrath of American justice on American soil in American courts” as Venezuela declares a national emergency following the unprecedented cross-border military action.