In a stunning display of military precision, Operation ‘Absolute Resolve’ deployed over 150 aircraft and special forces to capture Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife — without any American casualties — marking one of the most complex and high-stakes operations in modern U.S. history.
General Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, provided an unprecedented level of detail on Saturday about how U.S. forces executed the operation to apprehend Nicolas Maduro and his wife early Saturday morning. The mission, codenamed “Absolute Resolve,” involved more than 150 aircraft including fighter jets, bombers, surveillance planes, intelligence assets, and helicopters — all coordinated across Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Space Force, and intelligence agencies.
The aircraft were sourced from 20 bases both on land and at sea, with support units playing critical roles throughout the mission. Fighter jets included F-35s, F/A-18s, E/A-18s, and F-22s. Bombers consisted of B-1s. Unmanned aerial vehicles and E-2 Hawkeyes also participated.
The mission began at precisely 10:46 p.m. Friday, when President Donald Trump issued the order. His message — “Good luck and Godspeed” — was relayed directly to every member of the joint force. The extraction team included law enforcement personnel from the Justice Department, working alongside elite military units.
Helicopters flew at 100 feet above water as they approached Venezuela. To ensure safe passage, air defense systems were disabled before reaching Maduro’s compound. At 1:01 a.m. Eastern time (2:01 a.m. local), the helicopters arrived under fire. In self-defense, they responded with overwhelming force — but no American casualties were reported.
One helicopter was hit during the engagement but remained flyable. Upon arrival, Maduro and his wife were taken into custody by Justice Department officials — assisted by incredible U.S. military forces — with “no loss of life,” according to Caine. When departing the compound, the extraction force was protected by fighter aircraft and drones providing suppressive fire. They exited over water at 3:39 a.m. Eastern time and were transported to the USS Iwo Jima.
The entire operation was meticulously planned over months. As Caine emphasized, “We train, we rehearse, not to get it right — but to ensure we cannot get it wrong.” The mission relied heavily on intelligence gathered by CIA, NGA, and NSA — which tracked Maduro’s daily routines including where he ate, lived, traveled, and worked. The plan had been ready since early December, awaiting the optimal moment to maximize surprise.
Venezuela’s Vice President Delcy Rodriguez later claimed innocent people died — though she offered no specifics or accountability for the destruction witnessed at La Carlota airbase. Meanwhile, political reactions have been sharply divided: Republicans largely backed Trump’s actions, while Democrats condemned them as unjustified.
This operation redefines what global intervention looks like — not through diplomacy or sanctions, but through surgical, coordinated, and highly classified military execution. It represents a new paradigm in U.S. foreign policy — one where precision strikes replace prolonged conflict, and where national security priorities override traditional international norms.
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