The US Delta Force commandos carried out “Operation Absolute Resolve,” a raid on Maduro’s heavily guarded Caracas compound before dawn. It involved more than 150 planes, drones, and blowtorches to break down steel doors. The 30-minute attack took out Venezuela’s air defenses, left parts of the capital in darkness, and got Maduro out without any US casualties after months of gathering information on his habits.
Trump said that US troops would run the country until a “safe, proper, and judicious transition.” He also said that American oil companies would be in charge of fixing Venezuela’s broken infrastructure and making money. Maduro, who was called the “kingpin of a vast criminal network” for drug trafficking, is now on trial in New York at a detention center.
As explosions shook Caracas, Maduro’s vice president Delcy Rodriguez called the raid “barbaric” and “illegitimate,” and called for troops to be sent to the area. Opposition leaders want to privatize Venezuela’s huge oil reserves—over 300 billion barrels to increase production and bring in US investment.
