Washington January 4 2026 (Agencies) – The surprise and highly complex operation to capture Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro was the result of months of detailed planning and close coordination between the US military and intelligence agencies, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine said, describing the mission as a demonstration of overwhelming and integrated force.
Speaking after President Donald Trump announced the success of what was termed Operation Absolute Resolve, General Caine said the mission involved extraordinary levels of coordination across air, sea, space and cyber domains. He noted that more than 150 aircraft launched from multiple locations across the Western Hemisphere, all synchronized to converge at the right time and place to achieve a single objective while preserving tactical surprise.
“The word integration does not explain the sheer complexity of such a mission,” Caine said, adding that any failure within the system could have endangered the entire operation. He stressed that he was speaking only in general terms, citing the possibility of similar missions in the future.
According to Caine, the United States had been steadily building military capacity in the region for several months, with a significant deployment occurring in mid-November when the USS Gerald Ford carrier strike group arrived in the area. By early December, intelligence agencies had provided detailed information on Maduro’s routines, enabling planners to prepare for execution once conditions allowed.
Weather delays postponed the launch until late Friday night, when President Trump gave the final authorization at 10:46 pm Eastern Time. Aircraft then began launching from 20 different bases, including bombers, fighters, surveillance and reconnaissance platforms, helicopters and remotely piloted aircraft.
Caine said the extraction force consisted of helicopters flying at extremely low altitude, protected by aircraft from the US Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force and Air National Guard. The escort and strike elements included F-22 and F-35 fighters, F-18 aircraft, B-2 and B-1 bombers, along with other support assets. He added that non-kinetic effects from US Space Command and US Cyber Command were employed to suppress Venezuelan defenses ahead of kinetic actions.
By 1:01 am Eastern Time, the helicopter force had reached Maduro’s compound in Caracas. The apprehension team moved swiftly toward its objective, while escort aircraft provided protection. President Trump later said he observed the operation in real time and claimed Maduro was attempting to flee to a safe room when he was captured.
General Caine acknowledged that US helicopters came under fire during the operation and responded with what he described as overwhelming force in self-defense. One aircraft sustained damage, but all aircraft involved were able to return safely. Additional self-defense engagements occurred as US forces withdrew from Venezuelan territory.
The force successfully exfiltrated and returned to its launch platforms at sea, with all detainees aboard the USS Iwo Jima by 3:29 am Eastern Time. No American personnel or vehicles were lost during the mission, a result Caine attributed to extensive joint training and repeated rehearsals.
Caine concluded that US forces remain at a high state of readiness in the region, prepared to project power or defend American interests if required, calling the operation a clear demonstration of the capability and cohesion of the US joint force.