U.S. Details Reveal Massive Night Assault Capturing Maduro, Leaving Cuban Casualties Unclear
Updated (4 articles)
Operation Scope and Execution: The U.S. launched a two‑hour, multi‑domain assault on Caracas on the night of Jan 4, deploying more than 150 aircraft—including helicopters flying as low as 100 feet—to breach air defenses and reach Fuerte Tiuna. Power was cut citywide to disable radar, and explosions erupted around 02:00 local time, clearing a path for Delta Force troops. The unprecedented scale and speed of the operation succeeded without U.S. casualties, though one helicopter was hit and continued flying. [2][4][1]
Intelligence Gathering and Source Role: CIA team entered Venezuela in August, operating in a denied area to collect human intelligence and recruit local assets. A single source inside Maduro’s inner circle supplied precise movement data that anchored the planning mosaic of HUMINT, satellite imagery, and mapping. This intelligence enabled planners to time the strike during a brief window of favorable weather and cloud cover. [1][2][3]
Capture Outcome and Transfer Logistics: Delta Force breached the compound, handcuffed Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores, and moved them to the USS Iwo Jima before shuttling them to Guantanamo Bay and finally Stewart Air National Guard Base in New York. They now face narco‑terrorism, cocaine‑import, and weapons charges in a New York detention centre. The transport covered roughly 2,100 miles and involved coordinated sea, air, and ground movements. [2][3][4]
Political Reactions and Legal Fallout: Regional leaders, including Brazil’s Lula da Silva, condemned the raid as a dangerous precedent, while U.S. lawmakers criticized the lack of prior congressional briefing. President Trump praised the operation and announced that the United States would “run Venezuela,” though details remain vague. Attorney General Pam Bondi pledged vigorous prosecution of the Madurós on American soil. [2][4]
Remaining Mysteries and Unexplained Elements: Caracas lights were largely turned off during the raid, a tactic linked to advanced capabilities yet not fully explained. U.S. Cyber Command and Space Command received public credit, suggesting digital and satellite support whose extent remains unclear. Cuba reported that 32 of its nationals guarding Maduro were killed, a casualty figure not addressed in other reports. [1]
Sources (4 articles)
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[1]
BBC: Maduro capture: U.S. operation details emerge as mysteries persist: article reveals CIA denied‑area team, low‑altitude flights, Cuban guard deaths, and unanswered questions about cyber and power‑off tactics.
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[2]
BBC: US captures Maduro in Caracas in precision night operation: outlines Operation Absolute Resolve, 150+ aircraft, Delta Force breach, presidential authorization, and immediate regional condemnation.
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[3]
CNN: U.S. captures Nicolás Maduro in Caracas after months-long operation: emphasizes Delta Force extraction, CIA tracking team, transport chain to New York, and Trump’s pledge to run Venezuela.
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[4]
BBC: US captures Maduro in Caracas operation after months of planning: provides verification of five strike sites, detailed transport route, DEA video, and legal charges announced by Attorney General Bondi.
Timeline
August 2025 – The CIA inserts a covert undercover team into a denied area of Venezuela, operating without diplomatic cover because the U.S. embassy is non‑functional. The team scouts potential targets and recruits local assets, laying the groundwork for the later raid. [4]
Late 2025 (months of planning) – U.S. intelligence assembles a “mosaic” of human and technical data, including a single source inside Maduro’s inner circle who supplies precise movement details. Planners build a full‑size replica of Maduro’s Caracas safe house and rehearse entry routes, while Delta Force and other elite units are readied. [2][4]
Jan 2 2026 (22:46 EST, Friday) – The President gives the formal go‑ahead for “Operation Absolute Resolve” after waiting for a favorable weather and cloud‑cover window. Trump later says he “watched the operation” and approved the strike. [2]
Jan 4 2026 (02:00 local time) – A two‑hour, multi‑domain assault launches with more than 150 aircraft, low‑altitude helicopters flying just 100 ft above terrain, and a city‑wide power cut to blunt air defenses. Delta Force troops breach the Fuerte Tiuna military complex, capture Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores without a fight, and secure five verified strike locations. [2][3][4]
Jan 4 2026 – Maduro and Flores are handcuffed, dressed in gray sweatpants and blackout goggles, and photographed after extraction. They are moved to the USS Iwo Jima, then to Guantánamo Bay, and finally flown to Stewart Air National Guard Base in New York, where they face charges of conspiracy to commit narco‑terrorism, cocaine importation, and weapons offenses. [3][4]
Jan 4 2026 – Trump describes the safe‑room door as “very thick and heavy” and says troops could have blown it open “in about 47 seconds,” adding that the United States “will run Venezuela” for an indeterminate period. [3][4]
Jan 4 2026 – Attorney General Pam Bondi declares, “We will soon face the full wrath of American justice on American soil,” as a DEA headquarters video shows the captured couple. [3]
Jan 4 2026 – Regional leaders, including Brazil’s Lula da Silva, condemn the raid as a dangerous precedent, while U.S. lawmakers criticize the decision to bypass congressional briefing; Senator Rubio defends the secrecy. [2]
Jan 9 2026 – Further details surface: Caracas lights are largely turned off during the operation, a move linked to advanced capabilities; U.S. Cyber Command and Space Command receive credit for digital and satellite support, and Cuba reports 32 of its nationals guarding Maduro were killed, adding mystery to the cyber role. [1]
External resources (1 links)
- https://x.com/SenatorAndyKim/status/2007399987596906501?s=20 (cited 1 times)