According to the general, the apprehension force entered the target area around 1:00 a.m. Eastern Time (2:00 a.m. in Caracas), maintaining the "total element of surprise".
US General Dan Cain said that US military forces carried out an apprehension operation in Caracas in the early hours of January 2 with the objective of capturing Nicolás Maduro and his wife, in a mission he described as "one of the most complex and precise" carried out by the US military apparatus.
According to Cain, the operation—dubbed Operation Absolute Resolve —was the result of “months of planning, rehearsals, and interagency work” and was carried out with the joint support of ground, air, naval, space, cyber, and intelligence forces, in coordination with agencies such as the CIA, NSA, and NGA. The stated objective was to execute an “apprehension mission” to bring to justice two individuals previously convicted by U.S. courts.
The general explained that the timing was chosen to minimize the risk of civilian casualties, maximize the element of surprise, and ensure the physical safety of those captured. He noted that weather conditions were a critical factor and that the forces remained on high alert for weeks, awaiting a weather window that would allow for the safe execution of the mission.
According to his account, the presidential order was issued at 10:46 p.m., after which more than 150 aircraft took off from approximately 20 different bases in the Western Hemisphere. The operation included F-22, F-35, and F-18 fighter jets, EA-18 electronic warfare aircraft, E-2 early warning aircraft, B-1 bombers, insertion helicopters, and multiple surveillance drones.
Cain explained that the extraction helicopters flew at low altitude over the sea to avoid detection, while other aerial platforms disabled or neutralized Venezuelan air defense systems to open a safe corridor to Caracas. He also mentioned the coordinated use of capabilities from Space Command (Spacecom) and Cyber Command (Cybercom) to facilitate the force's advance.
According to the general, the apprehension force entered the target area around 1:00 a.m. Eastern Time (2:00 a.m. in Caracas), maintaining the "full element of surprise ." He indicated that the area was quickly isolated and that the teams moved "with speed, precision, and discipline" toward the objective.
After securing the detainees, the force began the extraction phase under air cover and suppressive fire, leaving Venezuelan territory around 3:00 a.m.
US Attorney General Pam Bondi confirmed that Maduro and Flores will be tried in a federal court in the Southern District of New York, noting that the Venezuelan president has faced a formal indictment since 2020 on four counts, including conspiracy to commit narcoterrorism .
Operation
The capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, occurred in an operation of the morning by US special forces on Venezuelan territory, as revealed by US President Donald Trump .
According to Trump, Maduro was in a heavily fortified residence, equipped with steel doors and a "secure space" designed to withstand attacks, when he was surprised by the military agency.
The Venezuelan president tried to take refuge in the fortified area, but the operation was so swift and precise that he had no time to take cover. Special forces had even planned to use industrial torches to penetrate the steel, although according to Trump, it wasn't necessary.
Trump asserted that the operation was planned down to the last detail, to the point that the teams involved built an exact replica of the house to rehearse every move, including hallways, stairs, and security systems.
According to US media, the mission was carried out by an elite Delta Force , whose members took Maduro and Cilia Flores out of bed and immediately transported them by helicopter.
With information from Diario Libre
Photo: Reuters
