Maduro's Capture: A Rapid Military Operation Documented in Images

Thu Jan 08 2026 01:41:46 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

In an unprecedented military operation, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has been captured by U.S. forces after an audacious raid in Caracas. Details of the operation reveal a swift assault leading to Maduro's arrest and extradition to the U.S.

U.S. forces executed 'Operation Absolute Resolve' to capture Nicolás Maduro, culminating in a 150-minute operation that led to his arrest in Caracas, Venezuela. Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores now face multiple charges in New York. The operation was meticulously planned and included significant military coordination, resulting in substantial damage to the Venezuelan military complex, Fuerte Tiuna.

The U.S. says its military operation to capture Venezuela's president, Nicolás Maduro, took months of planning, but when Donald Trump gave the order to launch, 'Operation Absolute Resolve' only lasted about 150 minutes.

The surprise early-morning attack marked an unprecedented event in modern politics, culminating in the arrest of Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. Captured by troops from an elite U.S. army unit as they attempted to flee into a fortified safe room, the pair is now being held in a detention center in New York and face narco-terrorism charges.

The scale of the military operation in Caracas became clear as the sun rose. Pictures from Fuerte Tiuna, a large military complex where top government officials reside, showed bombed out buildings and burned cars. It was at this compound that Maduro and his wife were captured, Venezuelan ruling party leader Nahum Fernández reported.

Following the order given by Trump, Operation Absolute Resolve commenced with reports of explosions at around 02:00 local time in Caracas. The U.S. had cut power to the city, launching what Trump described as a 'dark and deadly' mission aimed to disable Venezuelan air defenses.

Military helicopters flew low over the city, gaining access to the compound by 02:01 local time. Maduro and his wife attempted to escape but were quickly apprehended. The operation was characterized by significant gunfire; however, U.S. forces managed to secure the area and complete their mission within a matter of hours.

Once captured, Maduro was taken 2,100 miles to New York City. He was flown out of Caracas, transferred to the USS Iwo Jima, and then transported via helicopter to Manhattan. The couple now faces multiple charges, including conspiracy to commit narco-terrorism and possession of machine guns in the U.S.

This rapid sequence of events has drawn international attention and raised questions about U.S. military intervention tactics. 'They will soon face the full wrath of American justice on American soil in American courts,' stated Attorney General Pam Bondi.