Operation "Absolute Resolve": How the USA Captured Maduro

Яна Орехова • 04.01.2026, 08:07 • Exclusive

Operation 'Absolute Resolve': How the US Captured Maduro

According to the BBC, for several months, American intelligence officials closely monitored the actions of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.

A small group conducting the surveillance included a source from the Venezuelan government who recorded where 63-year-old Maduro slept, what he ate, his clothing, and even, according to high-ranking military officials, his "pets."

In early December, the operation codenamed "Absolute Resolve" concluded, which was the result of months of planning and preparation. American elite troops even created an exact model of Maduro's safe house in Caracas to practice infiltration routes.
This plan, representing an unprecedented intervention by the US in Latin American affairs since the Cold War, remained strictly confidential. Congress was not notified in advance and was not consulted on the matter. After completing all preparatory stages, the military awaited suitable conditions for its implementation.

On Saturday, officials stated that their goal was to achieve complete surprise. Four days prior, there was an unsuccessful attempt when President Trump authorized the operation, but it was halted due to adverse weather conditions.

"For weeks, up until Christmas and New Year, our armed forces were on standby, waiting for signals and orders from the president," General Dan Cain noted at a press conference on Saturday morning.

"Good luck and God's grace!"

The order to commence the operation was given by the president at 10:46 PM Eastern Time on Friday. "We were going to do this a few days ago, but suddenly an opportunity arose, and we said: go ahead!" Trump said on the Fox & Friends program a few hours after the raid.

"He told us, and we appreciate it... good luck and God's help," General Cain added. The order was given shortly before midnight in Caracas, giving the troops an advantage to operate in the dark.

The actions lasted two hours and twenty minutes and shocked many in Washington and around the world. The operation was unprecedented in its scale and precision, prompting immediate condemnation from several countries, including Brazil, whose leadership called the violent capture of Maduro "an extremely dangerous precedent for the international community."

Trump did not monitor the operation from the White House but was at his Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Florida, where he watched the live broadcast with CIA Director John Ratcliffe and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

"It was an incredible sight," Trump noted. "I watched it like a TV show. If you had seen what happened, the speed and violence... it was just amazing, a brilliant job by our people."

In recent months, thousands of American troops had been deployed to the region, joining an aircraft carrier and dozens of warships. This became part of the largest military buildup in decades amid Trump's accusations of drug trafficking and terrorism, as well as the destruction of small boats suspected of transporting drugs.

Signs of Operation "Absolute Resolve" became evident in the sky. American officials reported that more than 150 aircraft participated in the operation, including bombers and fighters.

"It was an extremely complex maneuver, considering the number of aircraft and their landings," Trump noted in an interview. "We had a fighter jet on standby for emergencies."

At around 2:00 AM local time in Caracas, loud explosions were heard, and plumes of smoke rose over the city. "I heard a deafening sound," BBC correspondent Ana Vanessa Herrero reported. "Right after that, I saw a huge cloud of smoke that obscured the view."

"Planes and helicopters were flying all over the city," she added.

Social media quickly filled with videos showing planes in the sky and the aftermath of the explosions. One video showed a column of helicopters flying low over Caracas, while smoke from explosions rose above the city.

"We woke up around 1:55 AM from the sounds of explosions and the roar of planes," a local resident, Daniela, told the BBC. "Everything was plunged into darkness, illuminated only by the flashes of explosions."

"Neighbors were messaging in a group chat, not understanding what was happening, and were frightened by the sounds of explosions," she added.

The BBC Verify program analyzed numerous videos to accurately identify which targets were struck in Caracas.

So far, five targets have been identified, including the Generalissimo Francisco de Miranda Air Base, La Carlota Airfield, and the Port of La Guaira, the main transport hub of Caracas.

A map showing the locations of US airstrikes in Caracas and its surroundings highlights the Port of La Guaira to the north, Fuerte Tiuna and La Carlota in Caracas, as well as the Iguero Airport to the east.

According to officials, some strikes were aimed at air defense systems and other military facilities. Trump also suggested cutting off electricity in Caracas before the operation began, although he did not specify how this would be done.

"Thanks to our experience, the lights in Caracas were mostly turned off," he explained. "It was dark and dangerous."

"They knew we were coming."

During the airstrikes, American troops entered the city. According to sources who provided information to CBS, they included fighters from the elite Delta Force unit, equipped with heavy weaponry and a blowtorch in case they needed to breach the metal doors of Maduro's safe house.

General Cain reported that the troops reached Maduro's location shortly after the attacks began at 2:01 AM. Trump described the safe house as a well-fortified "fortress" in the center of Caracas. "They were on alert and expecting us. They knew we were coming," he said.

Upon arrival, the troops came under fire; one American helicopter was hit but continued to fly. "The operational team quickly and clearly landed on the grounds of Maduro's residence," General Cain added.

"They just burst in, overcoming doors that were specifically installed for protection," Trump noted.

Only when the operation, during which Maduro's wife, Cilia Flores, was detained, began to unfold did Secretary of State Rubio start notifying lawmakers about the actions taken, which caused outrage among some members of Congress.

"Nicolás Maduro is an illegitimate dictator. But starting military action without Congressional approval is reckless," said Democratic leader Chuck Schumer.

Prior notification to Congress could have jeopardized the mission, Rubio added. "Congress has a tendency to leak information," Trump added. "That would not have been good."

When American troops arrived at Maduro's residence, Trump recounted that he tried to reach a safe place, but it turned out to be unsafe, as the door could be blown open in 47 seconds. "He got to the door but couldn't close it," Trump added. "He was surrounded so quickly that he didn't have time to get in."

When asked if the US could have killed Maduro if he had resisted, Trump replied, "That could have happened." According to him, "a few people were injured," but no American servicemen were killed. Venezuelan authorities did not confirm information about casualties.

Previously, the US had offered a reward of $50 million for information that could lead to Maduro's arrest. However, by 4:20 AM local time on Saturday, helicopters left Venezuela with Maduro and his wife on board, in the custody of the Department of Justice and heading to New York for criminal charges.

Just over an hour later, Trump announced Maduro's arrest. "Maduro and his wife will soon face the full force of American justice," he stated.

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