The U.S. planned for months to capture Maduro and deployed over 15,000 troops.

Maduro and Wife Detained in U.S. for Trial — Trump: “We’re Taking Over Venezuela”

In the early hours of Saturday, January 3, the United States launched large-scale airstrikes on Caracas, the capital of Venezuela, and other locations, capturing President Nicolás Maduro and his wife and escorting them out of the country. The U.S. military had been planning this operation for months, including conducting detailed rehearsals.

According to Reuters, General Caine, Chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, told reporters that President Trump gave final approval for “Operation Absolute Resolve” at 10:46 p.m. on Friday, January 2.

Over the past several months, the Pentagon deployed one aircraft carrier, 11 naval vessels, and more than a dozen F-35 fighter jets to the Caribbean region, totaling over 15,000 troops.

Sources told Reuters that the Pentagon also quietly established logistical support in the Caribbean for aerial refueling tankers, drones, and specialized electronic warfare aircraft.

General Caine said the operation involved more than 150 aircraft launching from 20 bases across the Western Hemisphere, including F-35 and F-22 fighters as well as B-1 bombers.

U.S. forces also caused a blackout in Caracas to facilitate the operation. Trump stated, “It was pitch black. Thanks to our special technical capabilities, most of the lights in Caracas were turned off.”

Meanwhile, heavily armed U.S. special operations forces entered Caracas, carrying blowtorches in case they needed to cut through steel doors at Maduro’s residence.

On January 3, U.S. President Donald Trump posted on social media a photo of Venezuelan President Maduro aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima. (Reuters)

General Caine said that around 1 a.m. on Saturday, troops arrived at Maduro’s residence in downtown Caracas, encountering gunfire en route. One U.S. helicopter was hit but remained operational.

AFP reporters noted that the airstrikes lasted nearly an hour, targeting a major military base and an air force base.

Upon reaching Maduro’s secret residence, U.S. soldiers and FBI agents entered the compound, which Trump described as a “heavily fortified fortress.”

Trump said, “They went straight in—and into places people said were impossible to breach. You know, those steel doors were built exactly for that purpose. They subdued him and his wife in seconds.”

General Caine added that after U.S. troops entered the secret residence, Maduro and his wife surrendered without resistance. Trump claimed that Maduro had tried to enter a secure room but failed to close the door in time.