Inside Operation Absolute Resolve: How US forces captured Venezuela’s Maduro — after months of secret planning

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“It was actually really conducted under law enforcement authorities with U.S. military support,” Plitsas said.

FBI personnel accompanied the military assault force to formally place Maduro under arrest once the compound was secured.

Maduro and Flores were flown out by helicopter and later placed on a warship bound for New York City, where Trump said they will face trial.

US President Donald Trump in the Oval Office of the White House.
President Trump said the raid unfolded over just more than two hours and involved Marines, Navy, Air Force and National Guard units.AFP via Getty Images

“Right now, they’re on a ship,” Trump said. “They’ll be heading to, ultimately, New York.”

By 4:29 a.m. local time, Maduro and his wife had been transferred to the USS Iwo Jima, a U.S. Navy warship positioned in the Caribbean.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth praised the raid as “flawlessly executed,” saying Trump was “deadly serious” about stopping drugs and gangs.

Delcy Rodríguez leads a meeting with representatives of the Public Powers and other national authorities of Venezuela.
Delcy Rodríguez, together with the representatives of the Public Powers of the Venezuelan State and other national authorities, leads the meeting of the National Defense Council in the face of the military aggression against Venezuela.
Con el Mazo Dando/ X

“Nicolás Maduro had his chance,” Hegseth said. “He effed around and he found out.”

Trump said the US was prepared to launch a second larger wave if needed, but quickly realized it wouldn’t be necessary.

The capture raised immediate questions about who will take over Venezuela.

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