Washington, DC, January 5 - In a meticulously planned military operation dubbed Absolute Resolve, United States forces executed a daring raid to apprehend Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife on January 3, 2026. Months of intelligence gathering, including detailed surveillance of Maduro's routines, enabled precise timing and execution. Following presidential authorization late on January 2, more than 150 aircraft, encompassing bombers, fighters, reconnaissance platforms, drones, and rotary-wing assets, launched simultaneously from 20 bases across the Western Hemisphere. This massive air armada ensured tactical surprise and dominance over Venezuelan airspace during the Venezuela operation.
As forces approached Venezuelan shores, integrated cyber effects from U.S. Cyber Command and Space Command layered non-kinetic disruptions, including widespread power outages in Caracas that shrouded the capital in darkness. These cyber effects suppressed communications and defenses, paving a secure corridor for low-flying helicopters carrying elite special operators and law enforcement personnel. Kinetic strikes swiftly dismantled remaining air defense systems, allowing the insertion team to reach Maduro's fortified compound at Fuerte Tiuna without significant aerial opposition.
Upon descent, helicopters encountered ground fire, prompting an immediate response with overwhelming force in self-defense. One aircraft sustained damage but remained operational. The ground team moved with speed and precision, isolating the area and apprehending the targets amid real-time intelligence updates. Withdrawal involved further defensive engagements, yet all U.S. personnel and aircraft returned safely.
The operation concluded in under three hours, with Maduro and his wife extracted over international waters by 3:29 a.m. Eastern Time. This demonstration of overwhelming force, blending 150 aircraft deployments with advanced cyber effects, underscored joint force integration in achieving strategic objectives during the Venezuela crisis intervention. No U.S. lives were lost, highlighting the mission's tactical success in a high-risk environment.