U.S. Forces Capture Maduro in “Operation Absolute Resolve”: Key Facts

Published on: January 4, 2026

Table of Contents

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The Strike: Supported by a massive aerial campaign involving F-22s and B-1B Lancers, elite units (Delta Force) breached the Fort Tiuna military complex in Caracas.
Technological Edge: The mission was preceded by a total blackout of Venezuela’s radar and communications systems through advanced electronic warfare.
Extraction: Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were extracted via helicopter and transported to the USS Iwo Jima before being flown to the United States.

Nicolás Maduro is currently in U.S. custody in New York City.

Indictment: He faces federal charges of narcoterrorism and leading the “Cartel of the Suns,” an organization the U.S. alleges used cocaine trafficking as a weapon against the American public.
The Venue: His trial is expected to take place in the Southern District of New York. U.S. officials have stated that Maduro will be treated as a criminal defendant rather than a head of state.

The operation has triggered a global firestorm and an internal crisis within Venezuela:

Power Vacuum: While Vice President Delcy Rodríguez has claimed the interim presidency, the Trump administration has indicated that a U.S. transition team will oversee the country’s reorganization.
“The Oil Strategy”: A primary focus for the U.S. moving forward is the stabilization of Venezuela’s energy sector. President Trump has signaled that American oil companies will play a central role in rehabilitating the nation’s infrastructure.
Global Friction: Russia and China have labeled the act a “flagrant violation of sovereignty,” while the UN Security Council prepares for an emergency session on January 5.

Figure	Role/Status	Current Location
Nicolás Maduro	Former President	Metropolitan Detention Center (NYC)
Delcy Rodríguez	Claims Interim Presidency	Caracas, Venezuela
Marco Rubio	U.S. Transition Lead	Washington D.C. / Caracas