Operation Absolute Resolve: Inside the US Military’s Capture of Nicolás Maduro

Under heavy security escorts, ousted Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and Cilia Flores are escorted by heavily armed federal agents to a New York court on January 5, 2026, for their first appearance. The scene underscores the legal battles ahead as protesters rally nearby.

Operation Absolute Resolve: Inside the US Military’s Capture of Nicolás Maduro

By Paul V. Young – TheNATIONWEEK.com | January 9, 2026

WASHINGTON, D.C. – In a stunning display of military power, a meticulously planned and covert operation, codenamed “Absolute Resolve,” culminated in the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro by US forces. This unprecedented intervention, unseen in Latin America for decades, involved months of intelligence gathering, elaborate rehearsals, and a daring nighttime assault on Maduro’s fortified Caracas safe house. 

The operation, shrouded in secrecy, has sent shockwaves across the globe, raising questions about international law and the future of Venezuela.

Months of Surveillance and a Replicated Fortress

For months, a dedicated US intelligence team, reportedly aided by a source within the Venezuelan government, meticulously tracked Maduro’s every move. Their surveillance reportedly encompassed every detail of his life, from his daily routines and dietary habits to his security protocols. This granular intelligence formed the foundation of “Operation Absolute Resolve,” a plan finalized in early December.

A key element of the operation involved constructing a full-scale replica of Maduro’s safe house, allowing elite US troops to practice entry routes and tactical maneuvers under realistic conditions. This meticulous preparation underscored the high stakes and the commitment to minimizing casualties.

Secrecy and Execution: A Timeline of Events

The operation’s secrecy was paramount, with Congress neither informed nor consulted beforehand—a decision that has already ignited fierce debate. Top military officials patiently awaited the opportune moment, prioritizing surprise and optimal weather conditions. A previous attempt, scheduled four days prior, was reportedly aborted due to unfavorable conditions.

General Dan Caine, the nation’s highest-ranking military officer, revealed at a press conference: “Over the weeks through Christmas and New Year, the men and women of the United States military sat ready, patiently waiting for the right triggers to be met and the president to order us into action.”

President Trump issued the order to commence the mission at 22:46 EST on Friday (03:46 GMT on Saturday), granting the military the cover of darkness for the majority of the operation. Trump, who followed a live stream of the raid from his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida, described the event as “an incredible thing to see,” adding, “If you would have seen what happened, I mean, I watched it literally like I was watching a television show. And if you would have seen the speed, the violence… it’s just, it was an amazing thing, an amazing job that these people did.”

The two-hour-and-twenty-minute operation unfolded across air, land, and sea, leaving the international community stunned. The scale and precision of the mission drew immediate condemnation from regional powers, with Brazil’s President Lula da Silva denouncing the capture as “yet another extremely dangerous precedent for the entire international community.”

Air Superiority and Targeted Strikes: Setting the Stage

The initial phase of “Operation Absolute Resolve” involved a massive deployment of air power. Over 150 aircraft, including bombers, fighter jets, and reconnaissance planes, saturated the skies over Caracas. Trump emphasized the complexity of the operation, stating, “It was very complex, extremely complex, the whole maneuver, the landings, the number of aircraft. We had a fighter jet for every possible situation.”

At approximately 02:00 local time (06:00 GMT), Caracas residents were jolted awake by loud explosions and plumes of smoke. “I heard a huge sound, a loud bang,” reported Ana Vanessa Herrero, a resident of Caracas. “It moved all the windows. Immediately after, I saw a huge cloud of smoke that almost blocked the entire view.” Witnesses described planes and helicopters swarming the city, plunging the area into darkness punctuated by flashes of detonations.

US strikes targeted five key locations, including Generalissimo Francisco de Miranda Air Base (La Carlota), Port La Guaira, and other strategic military installations. According to US officials, the strikes aimed to neutralize air defense systems and other military assets. Trump also alluded to the US cutting power to Caracas prior to the mission, stating, “The lights of Caracas were largely turned off due to a certain expertise that we have. It was dark and it was deadly.”

Delta Force Assault: Maduro’s Apprehension

Under the cover of the aerial bombardment, elite Delta Force operators infiltrated Caracas. Armed with blowtorches to breach fortified doors, the troops arrived at Maduro’s safe house shortly after the strikes commenced.

“They were in a ready position waiting for us. They knew we were coming,” Trump stated, describing the safe house as a military “fortress.”

The troops encountered resistance upon arrival, and one US helicopter sustained damage but remained operational. Gen Caine described the assault as swift and decisive: “The apprehension force descended into Maduro’s compound and moved with speed, precision, and discipline.”

As US forces stormed the compound, Maduro reportedly attempted to flee to a safe room. “He was trying to get to a safe place, which wasn’t safe, because we would have had the door blown up in about 47 seconds,” Trump recounted. “He made it to the door. He was unable to close it. He got bum rushed so fast that he didn’t get into that [room].”

Trump acknowledged the potential for lethal force, stating, “It could have happened” when asked if the US would have killed Maduro had he resisted arrest. While no US service members were killed, Trump reported “a couple of guys were hit.”

Venezuelan Defence Minister Vladimir Padrino claimed in a statement that “a large part” of Maduro’s security team, along with “soldiers and innocent civilians,” were killed during the operation. The veracity of this claim remains unconfirmed.

Political Fallout and International Condemnation

As the operation unfolded, Senator Marco Rubio began notifying lawmakers, a decision that has drawn criticism from some members of Congress. Senator Chuck Schumer, the Senate’s Democratic leader, stated, “Let me be clear: Nicolás Maduro is an illegitimate dictator. But launching military action without congressional authorization and without a credible plan for what comes next is reckless.”

Rubio defended the decision to withhold information from Congress, citing the risk of leaks. “Congress has a tendency to leak,” Trump added. “This would not be good.”

By 04:20 local time on Saturday, helicopters carrying Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, departed Venezuelan territory. They are now in the custody of the US Department of Justice and en route to New York, where they are expected to face criminal charges.

The world now awaits the fallout from this audacious operation. The capture of Maduro has created a power vacuum in Venezuela and significantly escalated tensions in the region. The long-term consequences for Venezuela’s political stability, the future of US-Latin American relations, and the international legal framework remain deeply uncertain. The implications of “Operation Absolute Resolve” will undoubtedly be debated for years to come.