150 Aircraft and a Blowtorch: The 2026 US Operation Absolute Resolve to Capture Maduro

The silence of Caracas wasn't broken by a bang, but by the hiss of a blowtorch. In a mission that stunned the world, US forces captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro during the early hours of January 3, 2026. Dubbed Operation Absolute Resolve, the raid involved a massive military build-up and months of clandestine surveillance. According to BBC and Fox News, the operation marks the most significant US military intervention in Latin America since the Cold War.

Meticulous Planning: The Replica and the 'Pets' Surveillance

For months, the CIA and military intelligence monitored Maduro's every move—even tracking his pets and meal times. Elite troops practiced the breach using a full-size replica of his Caracas safe house. When the order finally came at 22:46 EDT on Friday, more than 150 aircraft were already in the skies, ready to strike air defense systems and military hubs.

President Donald Trump watched the operation live from his Mar-a-Lago estate. He later described the scene as "amazing," likening the high-definition feed to a television show. The scale of the mission was unprecedented, utilizing a carrier strike group and dozens of warships to seal off the region.

The Breach: Blowtorches and Steel Doors

At approximately 02:00 local time, the lights went out across Caracas. Utilizing specialized expertise to cut the power, Delta Force operators descended on the presidential compound. Despite facing resistance, they used blowtorches to slice through reinforced steel doors. Maduro attempted to reach a safe room, but he was apprehended before he could secure the door.

By 04:20, helicopters were airborne, carrying Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, into US custody. They're now headed to New York to face criminal charges, including narco-terrorism. While the US reported no service member fatalities, Brazil's President Lula da Silva has already condemned the act as a "dangerous precedent."