标签： Oceania

In a meticulously orchestrated covert operation spanning several months, US forces successfully captured Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro in a dramatic nighttime raid that culminated years of escalating tensions between Washington and Caracas. Codenamed “Operation Absolute Resolve,” the mission unfolded with surgical precision, combining advanced surveillance, military might, and strategic deception.

US intelligence agencies had maintained constant surveillance on Maduro since August, meticulously tracking his movements, dietary habits, and even his pets. According to Joint Chiefs Chairman General Dan Caine, American operatives built an intricate profile of the Venezuelan leader’s routines despite his efforts to frequently change locations as tensions with Washington mounted.

The military operation involved months of precise planning, including the construction of a replica house identical to Maduro’s residence for training purposes. By early December, US forces stood ready, awaiting optimal conditions including favorable weather patterns. President Trump revealed he initially ordered the mission four days prior to execution but delayed for perfect operational circumstances.

At 10:46 pm Washington time on Friday, President Trump gave the final authorization, offering the troops “Good luck and Godspeed” before more than 150 military aircraft launched from both land and sea bases. The mission core involved helicopters flying at merely 100 feet above ocean surface, supported by fighter jets providing air cover while US satellite and cyber capabilities disabled Venezuelan radar systems.

The operation reached its climax as explosions rocked Caracas just before 2 am local time, with US forces specifically targeting Venezuelan air defenses to enable the extraction team’s approach. President Trump monitored the entire operation via live feed from a makeshift situation room at his Mar-a-Lago resort, accompanied by top administration officials including Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and CIA director John Ratcliffe.

Describing Maduro’s compound as “a fortress” with steel doors and security rooms, Trump noted that specialized equipment including massive blowtorches had been prepared though ultimately proved unnecessary. The Venezuelan leader and his wife surrendered without significant resistance and were taken into custody facing US drugs and terrorism charges. Both were transported to the USS Iwo Jima by 3:29 am, with President Trump announcing the successful operation on Truth Social at 4:21 am Washington time.

The first visual confirmation of Maduro’s capture emerged through Trump’s social media channels, showing the former leader blindfolded, handcuffed, wearing ear protectors and a Nike tracksuit—a stark image marking the conclusion of one of the most sophisticated special operations in recent history.

President Donald Trump’s administration finds itself navigating treacherous political waters following a high-stakes military operation in Venezuela that successfully captured leader Nicholas Maduro. The daring special forces mission, involving helicopter deployments, aerial bombardments, and naval support, concluded without American casualties—a tactical victory that nonetheless ignited immediate controversy across the U.S. political spectrum.

The operation represents a striking departure from Trump’s longstanding isolationist rhetoric. For years, the president championed his ‘America First’ doctrine, criticizing foreign entanglements and famously denouncing the Iraq invasion as “a stupid thing.” This ideological foundation of his MAGA movement now faces its most significant test as the administration justifies intervention in Venezuela.

Democratic leaders launched swift condemnations, with Senator Chuck Schumer labeling the mission “reckless” and Iraq veteran Senator Ruben Gallego declaring it “illegal.” Meanwhile, Trump’s Republican allies mounted a vigorous defense. House Speaker Mike Johnson called the action “decisive and justified,” while Senator Tom Cotton praised the president and military personnel for the “incredible operation.”

Yet beneath surface unity, cracks appear within Trump’s base. Conservative Senator Mike Lee initially questioned the constitutional justification before being reassured the operation merely executed an arrest warrant. More significantly, MAGA firebrand Marjorie Taylor Greene delivered a scathing critique, challenging the administration’s narcotics trafficking justification and drawing uncomfortable parallels between Venezuelan regime change and Russian or Chinese aggression. Her conclusion—”Boy were we wrong”—signals potential disillusionment among Trump’s core supporters who believed they voted to end foreign interventions.

The administration now confronts complex questions about legal authority, strategic consistency, and political fallout that may reverberate through the upcoming election cycle.

In a significant escalation of intra-coalition tensions, Saudi-backed forces have successfully reclaimed control over Yemen’s resource-rich Hadramawt province following intense military confrontations with UAE-supported separatists. The operation, which commenced on Friday, marks a dramatic reversal in the ongoing power struggle between Gulf allies whose competing interests have fractured Yemen’s anti-Houthi alliance.

Rashad al-Alimi, head of Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council, confirmed that National Shield forces achieved ‘record success’ in retaking all military and security positions throughout the strategic border province. The development comes just months after the UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council (STC) had captured the region, creating a direct confrontation between the oil-rich Gulf powers.

Military officials reported that neighboring Mahra province similarly switched allegiance back to Saudi-backed forces without resistance, with separatist flags being replaced by Yemeni national banners. The transition occurred amid intensified Saudi airstrikes targeting STC positions, including a Friday attack on Al-Khasha military camp that resulted in 20 casualties according to separatist sources.

Eyewitness accounts from Mukalla described security breakdowns and looting as STC forces retreated, with residents observing military vehicles transporting household appliances amid the withdrawal. Satellite imagery and local reports confirmed Saudi warplanes conducted intensive strikes on STC camps at Barshid, though exact casualty figures remain unverified.

Diplomatic efforts intensified simultaneously, with Saudi Arabia issuing calls for a conference in Riyadh to unite southern factions. The foreign ministry emphasized the need for ‘just solutions to the southern cause’ through dialogue. Both the STC and UAE subsequently expressed willingness to engage in talks, while Egypt, Qatar, Kuwait, and Bahrain voiced support for negotiated settlements that preserve Yemen’s territorial integrity.

The developments occur against the STC’s announced two-year transitional plan toward potential independence, including proposed referendums and dialogue with northern Houthi rebels. STC president Aidaros Alzubidi warned that immediate independence declarations would follow if southern Yemen faced further attacks or dialogue failed.

This military realignment underscores the complex fragmentation of Yemen’s conflict, where the Saudi-led coalition continues battling Houthi rebels in the north while its constituent members fight proxy wars in the south, complicating peace efforts after nearly a decade of civil war.

Senior security officials from fifteen nations, including key European powers and international bodies, convened in Kyiv this Saturday for high-stakes discussions on a United States-mediated strategy to terminate the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian war. The assembly marks the inaugural diplomatic gathering of the new year, with participants from Britain, France, Germany, NATO, and the European Union in attendance.

The dialogue, which Ukrainian Chief Negotiator Rustem Umerov detailed via Telegram, centered on foundational documents outlining potential security guarantees and methodologies for implementing a peace formula. A subsequent European leadership summit is anticipated in France early next week to advance these multilateral efforts.

These intensified diplomatic initiatives unfold against a backdrop of persistent military aggression. Recent days have witnessed lethal strikes in multiple regions, including Kharkiv and Kherson, resulting in civilian casualties. Moscow and Kyiv remain fundamentally divided over territorial sovereignty, with Russia currently occupying approximately twenty percent of Ukraine’s landmass and insisting on complete dominion over the eastern Donbas region as a non-negotiable condition for any settlement.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky issued a firm declaration during a Saturday press briefing, emphasizing that absent a diplomatic breakthrough compelling Russian withdrawal, Ukraine would steadfastly continue its defensive campaign. He explicitly rejected any agreement that would compromise territorial integrity or fail to establish durable deterrence against future invasions.

The geopolitical landscape is further complicated by parallel international crises, notably a large-scale U.S. military engagement in Venezuela, which diverted some attention from the proceedings. Meanwhile, President Zelensky has initiated significant restructuring within Ukraine’s leadership and regional governance, signaling a strategic consolidation as the conflict extends into another year of devastating warfare.

Nicolas Maduro’s political trajectory represents one of Latin America’s most dramatic rises to power, beginning as a bus driver before ascending to Venezuela’s presidency where he established an authoritarian regime. His leadership, marked by economic collapse and human rights violations, culminated in a stunning capture by U.S. special forces in Caracas.

Maduro cultivated a paradoxical public persona, presenting himself simultaneously as a man of the people through televised dance performances and baseball enthusiasm while ruling with increasingly authoritarian measures. This carefully constructed image included regular appearances as a cartoon superhero named ‘Super-Bigote’ (Super-Mustache), creating an unusual contrast to his repressive governance.

The economic consequences of his administration proved catastrophic, with Venezuela experiencing four consecutive years of hyperinflation and an 80% GDP contraction over a decade. This economic freefall triggered a massive exodus of approximately seven million Venezuelans fleeing economic hardship and political repression.

Maduro maintained power through strategic alliances with China, Cuba, and Russia while relying heavily on military and paramilitary support. His government faced international condemnation for systematic human rights abuses including arbitrary detentions, torture, censorship, and violent crackdowns on dissent. More than 2,400 arrests occurred during protests following his disputed 2024 election victory, resulting in 28 fatalities and 200 injuries.

The political opposition faced consistent suppression throughout Maduro’s tenure. Despite international recognition of Juan Guaido as interim president in 2018 and later endorsement of opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia in 2024, Maduro retained control through questionable electoral processes widely denounced as fraudulent.

His wife, Cilia Flores, played a crucial role as his political partner and behind-the-scenes power broker. Referred to as ‘First Combatant’ and ‘Cilita,’ Flores accompanied Maduro during his capture and faces federal charges alongside him in New York.

Maduro’s ideological foundation blended Marxism with Christianity, creating a unique political identity that included anti-American conspiracy theories inherited from his predecessor Hugo Chavez. Despite occasionally engaging in diplomatic negotiations that temporarily eased international sanctions, Maduro consistently reneged on democratic commitments, leading to renewed economic pressure.

His capture by U.S. forces marks a potentially transformative moment for Venezuelan politics, ending an era characterized by economic devastation, political repression, and the mass emigration of citizens seeking refuge from his authoritarian rule.

In a stunning development that has sent shockwaves through international relations, former U.S. President Donald Trump has publicly celebrated the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro by American forces. Speaking from his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida, Trump described watching the operation unfold in real-time, comparing the dramatic events to a high-stakes television spectacle.

The Republican leader revealed intricate details of the mission, explaining how U.S. forces successfully extracted Maduro from what he characterized as a heavily fortified compound. ‘I’ve never witnessed anything comparable. The precision and intensity were extraordinary—literally reminiscent of a cinematic production,’ Trump remarked during a Fox News telephone interview. He emphasized that despite the operation’s violent nature, no American troops lost their lives, though several sustained injuries.

According to Trump’s account, the Venezuelan president and his wife, Cilia Flores, have been transported to a U.S. naval vessel and will subsequently face trial in New York on serious charges including narco-terrorism conspiracy and cocaine importation allegations. Trump disclosed that he had personally communicated with Maduro approximately one week prior to the operation, explicitly demanding his surrender.

The operation represents the culmination of a prolonged pressure campaign against the Venezuelan government, which included airstrikes preceding the ground assault. Trump indicated that weather conditions had delayed the mission for four days before ultimately proceeding on Saturday. He described Maduro’s compound as a ‘fortress’ equipped with reinforced steel security systems, though U.S. forces reportedly overwhelmed these defenses without requiring specialized equipment.

Administration officials joined in the triumphant rhetoric, with Vice President JD Vance declaring on social media that ‘justice cannot be evaded through palace walls in Caracas.’ U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi confirmed that both Maduro and Flores face multiple indictments in the Southern District of New York, with the charges against Flores previously undisclosed.

This aggressive action against a foreign leader presents significant legal and diplomatic implications, particularly given Trump’s simultaneous portrayal of himself as a ‘peace president’ deserving of Nobel recognition. The administration has previously accused Maduro of leading the ‘Cartel of the Suns’ drug trafficking organization and offered a $50 million reward for information leading to his capture.

The operation also serves as a warning to other nations, with Trump specifically mentioning Mexico regarding drug trafficking enforcement. Secretary of State Marco Rubio reinforced the administration’s position that Maduro lacks legitimate presidential authority following internationally criticized elections.

In a stunning escalation of geopolitical tensions, the United States has conducted a large-scale military operation against Venezuela, resulting in the capture of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife. The pre-dawn offensive targeted key military installations in Caracas, including Fort Tiuna—the nation’s largest military complex—and Carlota airbase, with additional strikes reported in the port city of La Guaira.

Former President Donald Trump announced the operation’s success via Truth Social, declaring that Maduro had been ‘flown out of the country’ to face American justice. U.S. officials, including Attorney General Pamela Bondi, confirmed that the Venezuelan leader would stand trial on drug trafficking and terrorism charges in United States courts.

The Venezuelan government condemned the action as ‘extremely serious military aggression,’ with Vice President Delcy Rodriguez demanding proof of life for Maduro and calling for an emergency UN Security Council session. Russia, a key Venezuelan ally, joined in condemning the operation and requested immediate clarification regarding Maduro’s status.

International reactions varied significantly, with Iran and Cuba joining Venezuela in condemnation, while Spain offered mediation services. Colombia’s leftist president announced troop deployments to the Venezuelan border following the attacks.

The operation represents the culmination of months of escalating tensions between the two nations, during which Trump deployed naval assets to the Caribbean and imposed severe economic sanctions. The U.S. administration has consistently accused Maduro of leading a narcoterrorist state and orchestrating fraudulent elections.

Residents of Caracas reported hearing explosions and aircraft for nearly an hour, with many civilians taking shelter or preparing emergency supplies. No official casualty figures have been released following the strikes.