Operation Absolute Resolve: U.S. Forces Capture Nicolás Maduro in High-Stakes Caracas Raid

Operation Absolute Resolve: U.S. Forces Capture Nicolás Maduro in High-Stakes Caracas Raid

While Maduro has consistently denied involvement in the narcotics trade—claiming the U.S. seeks to overthrow him to seize Venezuela’s massive oil reserves—the White House has maintained that his government operates as a criminal enterprise.

RMN News Political Desk
New Delhi | January 4, 2026

MAR-A-LAGO, Florida — In a dramatic escalation of geopolitical tensions, President Donald J. Trump announced on Saturday, January 3, 2026, that United States elite special operations forces have captured Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. The mission, codenamed “Operation Absolute Resolve,” involved a joint military and law enforcement effort that resulted in the removal of Maduro from Caracas following months of clandestine planning and rehearsal.

The Midnight Strike: “Shock and Awe” in Caracas

The operation began in the early hours of Saturday morning with what has been described as a “shock and awe” style strike conducted by the U.S. Army’s elite Delta Force. Residents in the Venezuelan capital reported at least seven major explosions around 2:00 a.m. local time as U.S. forces conducted large-scale airstrikes to disable Venezuelan air defense systems.

Targets included key military installations such as Fuerte Tiuna and the La Carlota Airbase. According to sources, Maduro was “dragged out of his bedroom” at one of his residences during the raid. Shortly after the capture, President Trump released a social media image showing a blindfolded and handcuffed Maduro in custody aboard the U.S. Navy amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima.

The official White House Rapid Response account posted a video showing Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro being escorted by the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) officers inside the agency’s headquarters in New York on Saturday.

Perp walked.pic.twitter.com/34iIsFUDdG

— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) January 4, 2026

Legal Basis and Criminal Charges

The U.S. government maintains that the legal foundation for this extraordinary military intervention stems from a 2020 Department of Justice indictment. Maduro faces several federal charges, including:

• Narco-terrorism conspiracy
• Cocaine importation
• Drug trafficking

The U.S. had previously placed a $50 million bounty on Maduro for his arrest. While Maduro has consistently denied involvement in the narcotics trade—claiming the U.S. seeks to overthrow him to seize Venezuela’s massive oil reserves—the White House has maintained that his government operates as a criminal enterprise.

Geopolitical Fallout and Domestic Reaction

The capture has triggered immediate international condemnation from Venezuela’s allies. Russia and Iran have denounced the operation as a blatant violation of Venezuelan sovereignty. Within Venezuela, Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López labeled the mission an “invasion,” while Vice President Delcy Rodríguez has demanded “proof of life” for the captured leader.

Conversely, the U.S. and several European nations have long questioned Maduro’s legitimacy, citing disputed elections in 2018 and 2024. Tensions peaked in 2025 after the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, and President Trump publicly signaled just weeks ago that Maduro should step down.

Next Steps for the Maduros

Both Maduro and Cilia Flores are expected to face criminal court proceedings in the United States. Air Force Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, noted that the military worked extensively with intelligence agencies to ensure the mission’s success. This operation is viewed by many as a final “checkmate” in a long-standing conflict over Venezuelan governance and international law.

To understand the complexity of this event, one might view the years of sanctions, indictments, and diplomatic friction as a long-running chess match; this military operation served as the final “checkmate” move, bypasssing the board entirely to remove the opposing king from the table.