Operation Absolute Resolve: Inside the Covert Mission to Capture Nicolás Maduro

                Donald Trump approved the operation to capture Nicolas Maduro four days ago.

In early 2026, the United States carried out one of its most intricate covert actions in recent memory: the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro. The mission blended elite military planning, deep‑cover intelligence work, and an exact replica of Maduro’s safe house built for rehearsals.

A full‑scale mock‑up of the compound allowed U.S. Special Forces to practice breaching routes, timing, and extraction procedures. The real location was heavily fortified, making precision essential. Meanwhile, intelligence operatives spent months tracking Maduro’s movements, mapping his security patterns, and identifying the narrow window in which a capture could be attempted with minimal resistance.

The operation unfolded before dawn on January 3, 2026. Explosions and rapid gunfire echoed across Caracas as U.S. forces executed a tightly coordinated strike lasting less than half an hour. By morning, the United States announced that Maduro and his wife were in custody aboard a naval vessel in the Caribbean.

Although the mission achieved its objective, early reports indicated significant casualties among Venezuelan security forces and civilians. The operation has since ignited global debate over sovereignty, intervention, and the future political trajectory of Venezuela.