CARACAS / WASHINGTON, D.C.
In an extraordinary and highly controversial military operation, U.S. forces have captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and flown him to the United States to face federal criminal charges, officials confirmed following a dramatic early-morning raid in the capital Caracas that has reverberated around the world.
The covert mission, dubbed Operation Absolute Resolve, was conducted in the early hours of January 3, 2026, under orders from the U.S. President Donald Trump. Senior U.S. officials say the assault involved months of meticulous planning by American intelligence and military units, including elite elements of the U.S. Army’s Delta Force, supported by airborne assets, cyber operations and other advanced capabilities.
According to U.S. sources, more than 150 military aircraft from multiple branches of the U.S. Armed Forces including fighters, electronic warfare planes and transport helicopters participated in the initial strikes that neutralised Venezuelan air defence systems and communication infrastructure in northern Venezuela. After disabling key targets near Caracas, special operations teams reportedly moved swiftly into Maduro’s compound for the ground assault.
U.S. officials say the raid was executed with precision, with special forces breaching fortified positions in a matter of minutes. Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were taken into custody amid resistance from Venezuelan security personnel and then transported by helicopter first to the U.S. Navy’s USS Iwo Jima offshore. They were later flown to the United States, arriving at Stewart Air National Guard Base in New York, where they were placed into federal custody.
Within days, Maduro appeared in a federal court in Manhattan to face drug trafficking and associated charges filed by U.S. prosecutors in the Southern District of New York. Both he and Flores entered not guilty pleas. At his first hearing, Maduro described himself as a “kidnapped president” and rejected the legitimacy of the U.S. operation, asserting his authority as Venezuela’s duly elected leader.
The legal case centres on longstanding allegations that Maduro oversaw and protected a network allegedly involved in narcotics trafficking into the United States, including accusations tied to cocaine shipments. U.S. authorities have pursued these charges for years, escalating pressure on Maduro’s government through indictments that were unsealed only after his capture.
The bold mission has drawn intense international scrutiny and sharp division among world powers. At the United Nations Security Council, diplomats debated the legality of the operation, with critics from countries such as Russia and China denouncing the U.S. action as a violation of international law and Venezuelan sovereignty. UN Secretary-General António Guterres described the raid as a “dangerous precedent” that could erode established norms against the unilateral use of force.
Supporters of the U.S. action within Washington argue that bringing Maduro to justice was a necessary step to counter illegal drug flows and entrenched corruption. The Trump administration has defended the operation as lawful and justified under U.S. legal frameworks, pointing to long-standing indictments and claims that Maduro’s government posed threats to regional stability.
Even as legal teams prepare for months of litigation, the broader political and diplomatic aftermath continues to unfold. Venezuelan officials loyal to Maduro’s government have condemned the raid as an “act of aggression,” and Vice President Delcy Rodríguez has assumed interim leadership, vowing resistance and questioning the legitimacy of U.S. actions.
The capture also triggered a wave of regional reactions. Some neighbouring countries have expressed concern over the potential for instability and refugee flows, while others have echoed calls for a return to diplomatic solutions. The extraordinary nature of a U.S. military operation that resulted in the removal and extradition of a sitting foreign head of state has prompted urgent debate in capitals worldwide about the implications for sovereignty, international law and hemispheric relations.
In addition to the political dimensions, there have been reports of casualties during the operation. Venezuelan and Cuban authorities said military personnel were killed during clashes, with the Cuban government reporting losses among its forces that had been involved in Maduro’s security detail. U.S. officials maintain that no American service members were killed, though some were wounded, underscoring the perilous nature of the mission.
Back in Caracas and elsewhere in Venezuela, citizens are absorbing the shock of the night raid and its aftermath. With the president removed and now on trial abroad, economic and social uncertainty has deepened for many Venezuelans already struggling with years of political and economic turmoil.
As Maduro’s trial proceeds in New York and global leaders continue to respond, the ramifications of this unprecedented operation will stretch far beyond the courtroom. This event marks a pivotal moment in U.S.–Venezuelan relations, raising questions about military power, legal authority and the future of governance in one of Latin America’s most oil-rich nations
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