The United States Invaded Venezuela and Captured President Maduro

By James, Admin
January 5, 2026 – 9:00 PM CST, Chicago, IL

The United States carried out a dramatic military operation in Venezuela, capturing President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, in the early hours of January 3, 2026.

U.S. forces launch **Operation Absolute Resolve**, a coordinated effort involving special operations teams, extensive air support, and targeted strikes to suppress Venezuelan defenses.

The action begins around 2:01 a.m. local time in Caracas, with explosions reported across the capital and other northern areas as American aircraft—more than 150 in total—conduct strikes on military infrastructure.

Elite units, including Delta Force operators supported by helicopter assaults, descend on Maduro's fortified compound in the heart of the city.

Amid a brief but intense firefight, U.S. troops apprehend Maduro just as he attempts to reach a secure safe room, preventing his escape.

Flores is captured alongside him during the raid.

The couple is quickly exfiltrated by helicopter and transported to the USS Iwo Jima, an amphibious assault ship positioned offshore in the Caribbean.

President Donald Trump announces the success from Mar-a-Lago later that morning, sharing images of a blindfolded Maduro in U.S. custody aboard the vessel.

Trump describes the mission as a precise strike against an "outlaw dictator" indicted on serious federal charges, including narco-terrorism, drug trafficking conspiracies, and weapons offenses dating back to 2020.

Maduro and Flores face transfer to New York, where they arrive and are held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn pending court proceedings.

On January 5, the pair appears in Manhattan federal court and enters not guilty pleas to the charges.

Vice President Delcy Rodríguez assumes the role of acting president shortly after the capture, following a declaration by Venezuela's Supreme Court of Maduro's "forced absence."

Rodríguez begins implementing cabinet and military changes, signaling a shift in governance amid the power vacuum.

The U.S. administration emphasizes that the country is not at war with Venezuela or its people, framing the operation as a law enforcement action targeting criminal activity rather than regime change.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio stresses ongoing leverage to encourage democratic transitions and cooperation from interim Venezuelan leadership.

Reports indicate the lifting of certain U.S. sanctions on Venezuela's oil sector follows the events, opening pathways for privatization and energy negotiations.

Trump states publicly that the United States assumes temporary oversight of Venezuela until infrastructure repairs and a stable handover occur, including control over oil resources.

Public opinion in the United States remains divided: a Reuters survey shows roughly equal approval and disapproval, with strong Republican support contrasting low Democratic backing.

In Venezuela, early polling suggests broad positive sentiment toward the intervention, with only a small minority expressing mild opposition.

International reactions vary sharply—some allies express concern over sovereignty violations, while legal experts question the action's compliance with international law.

The capture sparks regional ripple effects, including instability in allied nations like Cuba.

As of early January, the release of hundreds of political prisoners in Venezuela adds to the unfolding humanitarian and political developments.

The operation marks a bold escalation in U.S. policy toward Venezuela, with long-term implications for Latin American relations and global norms on intervening against sitting leaders still unfolding.