The Pentagon detailed a massive military operation to grab a foreign president. Air Force General Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs, described the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores as the result of months of intelligence work and precise planning called Operation Absolute Resolve. Over 150 U.S. aircraft provided surveillance and cover for a ground team that extracted the targets from Caracas with minimal resistance, transferring them to the USS Iwo Jima after securing them without American injuries.
General Caine stated the mission integrated air, ground, maritime, and space assets for a swift nighttime operation, emphasizing timing and discipline. He framed the action as lawful, based on years of intelligence and a prior U.S. indictment of Maduro on drug trafficking and narco-terrorism charges, denying it was impulsive.
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth called the mission a textbook example of joint force integration, showcasing Washington's willingness to confront state-linked criminal networks. President Donald Trump earlier framed Maduro's removal as a turning point, mentioning plans for a transitional arrangement involving Venezuelan officials like Vice President Delcy Rodriguez.
Caine concluded that the military's clear objective was accomplished: secure the target, avoid civilian harm, and return all personnel safely. The operation represented a significant escalation of direct U.S. military intervention based on long-standing criminal allegations.
General Caine stated the mission integrated air, ground, maritime, and space assets for a swift nighttime operation, emphasizing timing and discipline. He framed the action as lawful, based on years of intelligence and a prior U.S. indictment of Maduro on drug trafficking and narco-terrorism charges, denying it was impulsive.
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth called the mission a textbook example of joint force integration, showcasing Washington's willingness to confront state-linked criminal networks. President Donald Trump earlier framed Maduro's removal as a turning point, mentioning plans for a transitional arrangement involving Venezuelan officials like Vice President Delcy Rodriguez.
Caine concluded that the military's clear objective was accomplished: secure the target, avoid civilian harm, and return all personnel safely. The operation represented a significant escalation of direct U.S. military intervention based on long-standing criminal allegations.
