U.S. Military Details Complex Operation Leading to Capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro
PALM BEACH, Fla. — In a rare public disclosure, Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine outlined the intricate military operation that resulted in the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, a mission that unfolded in the early hours of January 2 and involved more than 150 aircraft launched across the Western Hemisphere. Dubbed “Operation Absolute Resolve,” the effort was the culmination of months of meticulous planning and coordination among U.S. military and intelligence agencies.
Speaking alongside President Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago on January 3, Gen. Caine described the mission as one that “only the United States military could undertake,” emphasizing the precision and integration required to execute such a complex interdiction deep inside Caracas. “The word integration does not explain the sheer complexity of such a mission, an extraction so precise it involved more than 150 aircraft launching across the Western Hemisphere in close coordination,” Caine said. “All coming together in time and place to layer effects for a single purpose, to get an interdiction force into downtown Caracas while maintaining the element of tactical surprise.”
The operation began during the “darkest hours” of January 2, with the president ordering the military to move forward at 10:46 p.m. Eastern Time. Gen. Caine recounted how weather conditions briefly cleared, allowing the most skilled aviators to navigate a challenging path over ocean, mountains, and low clouds. “When tasked with a mission, this organization does not quit,” he said.
Aircraft launched from 20 different bases on land and sea, involving a joint force with ages ranging from 20 to 49 years old. The extraction force included law enforcement officers who flew into Venezuelan territory at an altitude of 100 feet above water to maintain stealth. The operation was supported by intelligence agencies including the Central Intelligence Agency, the National Security Agency, and the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency. These agencies provided critical intelligence and helped coordinate effects from Space Command and Cyber Command to create a secure pathway for the mission.
President Maduro was detained aboard the USS Iwo Jima following precision strikes on Venezuelan targets. The operation was hailed by some U.S. officials as a decisive moment in addressing the Venezuelan political crisis, though it has drawn a mix of international reactions. Meanwhile, reports indicate that Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez, presumed to be Maduro’s successor, may be in Russia.
Gen. Caine’s detailed account sheds light on the scale and sophistication of the operation, highlighting the U.S. military’s capacity for rapid, coordinated action in complex environments. The mission underscores the critical role of interagency cooperation and advanced technology in modern military operations. For more on the U.S. military’s capabilities and joint operations, see the Department of Defense and the Joint Chiefs of Staff official sites.
This operation marks a significant chapter in U.S. foreign policy and military engagement in Latin America, with implications for regional stability and international relations in the months ahead.
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