How U.S. forces detained President Maduro

Darwin, 04 January:

The United States has released details of an operation in which it claims Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro was detained by U.S. forces in Caracas.

According to U.S. officials, Maduro was arrested with his spouse shortly after midnight on Saturday, January 3, during a military operation in the Venezuelan capital. Chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Dan Caine, outlined the details of the operation at a press briefing.

General Caine said the operation, code-named “Absolute Resolve,” was launched at approximately 10:30 p.m. local time on January 2, following direct orders from U.S. President Donald Trump. He stated that U.S. forces had been preparing for the mission for several months and executed it immediately after receiving authorization.

According to the briefing, President Maduro was located at a heavily secured facility. U.S. forces deployed helicopters to reach the site, supported by approximately 150 combat aircraft. These aircraft reportedly targeted and disabled Venezuela’s air defense systems to ensure safe passage for the helicopters.

Venezuelan forces were able to fire on one of the helicopters during the operation, U.S. officials said, but the aircraft was not damaged and remained operational.

As reported by Al Jazeera, General Caine said a special U.S. military team reached Maduro’s location in Caracas at 2:01 a.m. Both Maduro and his wife reportedly surrendered without resistance. While withdrawing from the site, U.S. forces came under fire and returned fire, though no U.S. casualties were reported.

The operation concluded at approximately 4:29 a.m., when the team transporting Maduro reached international waters. He was then transferred to a U.S. warship, which departed for New York, according to the U.S. account.

U.S. officials did not clarify whether Venezuela’s presidential guard or other security units mounted organized resistance during the operation.

President Donald Trump later claimed that Maduro attempted to enter a secure safe room but was unable to do so. Trump asserted that even if Maduro had reached the safe room, U.S. forces would have breached it.