The most elite special operations unit in the U.S. military just pulled off what may be the most audacious foreign leader capture since Osama bin Laden, but this time they brought their target back alive to face American justice.
Operation Absolute Resolve Unfolds in Three Minutes
Delta Force operators breached Maduro’s heavily fortified compound in Caracas within three minutes, preventing the Venezuelan president from reaching his reinforced safe room. The lightning-fast execution represented months of meticulous planning, including full-scale rehearsals at a replica compound constructed in Kentucky. Trump gave the final authorization at 10:46 p.m. EST on January 2nd, setting in motion what intelligence officials called the most complex rendition operation since the war on terror began.
The same unit that eliminated ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi in 2019 demonstrated their surgical precision once again. Delta Force, officially known as the 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta, represents the Army’s most secretive counter-terrorism capability. Their ability to operate in hostile territory while minimizing collateral damage has made them the go-to unit for the military’s most sensitive missions.
Multi-Pronged Strike Cripples Venezuelan Defenses
While Delta Force moved on Maduro’s compound, simultaneous American strikes neutralized five critical Venezuelan military sites. The targets included Generalissimo Francisco de Miranda Air Base, La Carlota airfield, Port La Guaira, Fuerte Tiuna, and Antenas El Volcán. These coordinated attacks effectively blinded Venezuelan air defenses and prevented any organized military response to the abduction operation unfolding in their capital city.
The USS Gerald R. Ford, which had been positioned in the Caribbean since November, provided strategic support for the operation. Over 150 U.S. aircraft participated in what military officials described as a textbook example of joint operations. Venezuelan forces managed to damage one American helicopter with ground fire, resulting in injuries to U.S. personnel, but failed to prevent the mission’s ultimate success.
From Narco-Dictator to American Prisoner
Maduro’s capture represents the culmination of years of U.S. efforts to hold him accountable for narco-terrorism charges filed in 2020. The Venezuelan strongman, who has presided over his country’s economic collapse and humanitarian crisis, now finds himself facing American justice. His wife Cilia Flores was also captured during the raid, suggesting intelligence operatives had precise knowledge of their whereabouts and daily routines.
The operation’s success demonstrates Trump’s willingness to use decisive military action against threats to American interests. Unlike the prolonged conflicts that have characterized recent decades, this surgical strike achieved its objectives without the need for occupation or nation-building. The precedent it sets for dealing with hostile foreign leaders who threaten U.S. security through drug trafficking and terrorism cannot be understated.
Sources:
Jerusalem Post International Report
Wikipedia: 2026 United States strikes in Venezuela