(United States, 4th) The US military raided Venezuela and arrested Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife. On the 3rd, the US military disclosed details of the mission at a press conference, emphasizing that the operation to apprehend the Maduro couple involved over 150 aircraft, including fighter jets, bombers, reconnaissance planes, and drones.
On the 3rd, US President Trump held a press conference at Mar-a-Lago in Florida regarding the military operation against Venezuela. Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Kane subsequently briefed on the details of the action.
According to consolidated foreign media reports, Kane said the operation was codenamed "Absolute Resolve" and was "secretive and precise," after months of planning and repeated rehearsals. In early December 2025, US forces entered standby status, awaiting a series of conditions to be fulfilled.
According to consolidated foreign media reports, Kane said the operation was codenamed "Absolute Resolve" and was "secretive and precise," after months of planning and repeated rehearsals. In early December 2025, US forces entered standby status, awaiting a series of conditions to be fulfilled.
Kane mentioned that Trump ordered the mission to commence at 10:46 p.m. on the 2nd, relaying the president’s message of “Good luck; God be with you all” to all participating forces.
Subsequently, more than 150 US military aircraft took off from 20 different land and sea bases across the Western Hemisphere. As helicopters carrying capture teams neared the Venezuelan coast, the joint US air forces neutralized and suppressed Venezuela’s air defense systems.
Kane revealed that at 1:01 a.m. Eastern Time (2:01 a.m. Caracas local time), US troops reached Maduro’s residence. Upon entering the target area, the helicopter squadron came under counterattack—one helicopter was hit, but remained flight-capable. During the capture, the Maduro couple ultimately gave up resisting and, with assistance from US military personnel, were officially taken into custody by US Justice Department law enforcement. By 3:29 a.m. Eastern Time, the US task force had crossed over the sea, and the Maduro couple was subsequently transferred to the US Navy ship “Iwo Jima.”
Kane stated that US Space Command, Cyber Command, and other cross-service forces were mobilized to open up air corridors for the operation. The Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, and Air National Guard provided air cover, deploying warplanes including the F-22, F-35, F/A-18, B-1 bombers, as well as large numbers of drones.
Kane pointed out that the military worked closely with US intelligence agencies, including the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA), and National Security Agency (NSA). US intelligence units had grasped Maduro’s "life pattern," including his whereabouts, residence, travel movements, dining locations, and work arrangements. The mission had already been prepared as of early December last year, awaiting the most opportune moment to maximize the effect of the raid.