U.S. Operation Capturing Maduro Reveals Scale, Cyber Role and Cuban Casualties
Updated (4 articles)
Operation Absolute Resolve Launched in Early Hours of Jan 4 The U.S. launched a night‑time assault on Caracas at approximately 02:00 local time, breaching the Fuerte Tiuna complex where Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores were staying [2][4]. President Trump gave the final go‑ahead at 22:46 EST on Friday, waiting for a clear weather window and cloud cover [2]. The mission was kept secret from Congress until after the strike, prompting domestic political criticism [2].
Delta Force, 150+ Aircraft and Low‑Altitude Flights Executed Multi‑Domain Assault More than 150 aircraft, including helicopters flying as low as 100 feet, supported Delta Force troops who entered the compound and secured the targets [1][2][4]. Explosions and smoke were reported from five verified strike locations, and one helicopter was hit but continued its mission [1][2]. The operation combined air, land and sea elements, with cyber‑warfare support clearing electronic defenses [3][1].
Maduro and Flores Extracted to U.S. Bases and Then New York After capture, the couple were moved to the amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima, transferred to Guantánamo Bay, and finally flown to Stewart Air National Guard Base in New York for detention [3][4]. Video released by the DEA shows Maduro at its headquarters, confirming the U.S. legal process for narco‑terrorism charges [4]. Their transport covered roughly 2,100 miles, illustrating the logistical scale of the operation [4].
CIA Human‑Intelligence Network Provided Precise Targeting CIA undercover team entered Venezuela in August, operating in a denied area without diplomatic cover to gather human intelligence [1]. A single source close to Maduro supplied exact details of his movements, enabling planners to time the raid precisely [1][2][3]. All human intelligence was fused with satellite imagery and mapping data to create an intelligence mosaic that guided the assault [1].
Cyber, Space Commands and Cuban Casualties Highlight Unusual Aspects U.S. Cyber Command and Space Command were publicly credited for digital and satellite support that helped darken Caracas lights during the raid [1]. Cuba reported that 32 of its nationals guarding Maduro were killed, a detail not emphasized in earlier reports [1]. These elements underscore the operation’s multi‑layered technological and geopolitical complexity [1][3].
Sources
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1.
BBC: Maduro Capture: U.S. Operation Details Emerge as Mysteries Persist – Highlights CIA undercover work, a close‑in source, intelligence mosaic, low‑altitude flights, cyber/space involvement, and Cuban casualties .
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2.
BBC: U.S. Captures Maduro in Caracas in Precision Night Operation – Describes months‑long covert planning, presidential authorization, 150+ aircraft, Delta Force involvement, and political fallout .
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3.
CNN: U.S. Captures Nicolás Maduro in Caracas After Months‑Long Operation – Focuses on Delta Force breach, CIA tracking, weather timing, transport route to U.S. bases, and Trump’s policy statements .
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4.
BBC: U.S. Captures Maduro in Caracas Operation After Months of Planning – Verifies five strike sites, details of power cuts, transport logistics, DEA video, and charges filed against the couple .
Timeline
Aug 2025 – CIA undercover team operates in a denied area, scouting and recruiting local help while a source close to Maduro supplies precise whereabouts; human intelligence is fused with satellite imagery into a planning mosaic. [1][4]
2025 – U.S. planners develop “Operation Absolute Resolve,” rehearsing with a full‑size replica of Maduro’s Caracas safe house and maintaining a secret government insider; Congress is not briefed as planners await the right weather and cloud cover. [2]
Jan 2, 2026 – The president issues the final go‑ahead at 22:46 EST, authorizing the night‑time strike after a favorable weather window; earlier approval is delayed to ensure optimal cloud cover and to coordinate 150+ aircraft across air, land and sea. [2][4]
Jan 4, 2026 (02:00 local) – The multi‑domain assault launches with low‑altitude helicopter flights, a citywide power cut, and explosions at five verified strike sites including Fuerte Tiuna; about 150 aircraft, including Delta Force teams, breach the compound while one helicopter is hit but continues operating. [3][4][1]
Jan 4, 2026 – Delta Force troops capture Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores at Fuerte Tiuna, handcuffing them in gray sweatpants and blackout goggles; the couple surrenders without a struggle and are taken into U.S. custody. [4][3][2]
Jan 4, 2026 – The Maduros are moved from the Caracas compound to the USS Iwo Jima, then to Guantánamo Bay, flown to Stewart Air National Guard Base in New York, and finally helicoptered into Manhattan, covering roughly 2,100 miles. [3][4]
Jan 4, 2026 – President Trump describes the safe‑room door as “very thick and heavy” and claims Delta Force breached it in about 47 seconds, calling the location a “fortress” that Maduro could not close. [3]
Jan 4, 2026 – Attorney General Pam Bondi announces that Maduro and Flores face charges of conspiracy to commit narco‑terrorism, cocaine importation, and weapons offenses, promising they will “face the full wrath of American justice on American soil.” [3]
Jan 4, 2026 – Regional leaders, including Brazil’s Lula da Silva, condemn the raid as a dangerous precedent; U.S. lawmakers voice alarm over bypassing Congress, while Senator Rubio defends the secrecy and Trump praises the mission as decisive. [2]
Jan 4, 2026 – Unexplained elements of the operation include citywide lights being turned off, a credited role for U.S. Cyber and Space Commands, and reports that 32 Cuban nationals guarding Maduro were killed, fueling speculation about digital and satellite support. [1]
Jan 4, 2026 – Trump declares that the United States will “run Venezuela” for an indefinite period and hints at a larger military role if Maduro’s allies resist, signaling a major shift in U.S. policy toward the country. [4]
External resources (1 links)
- https://x.com/SenatorAndyKim/status/2007399987596906501?s=20 (cited 1 times)