Operation Absolute Resolve: Inside the US mission to capture Maduro

General Dan Caine, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, revealed that U.S. intelligence agencies had meticulously tracked Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, gathering insights into his movements, living arrangements, travel habits, and even his dining preferences and attire.

“The operation, known as Operation Absolute Resolve, was discreet, precise and conducted during the darkest hours of January 2, and was the culmination of months of planning and rehearsal — an operation that frankly only the United States military could undertake,” Caine said in a press conference at Mar-a-Lago with US President Donald Trump.
Pedestrians walk past destroyed containers at La Guaira port in Venezuela after the president was captured by the US.(Getty)

“While you might not get to witness it firsthand, it was truly remarkable that not a single American service member was harmed, nor was any piece of American equipment lost,” Caine remarked.

“This operation involved numerous helicopters, planes, and a significant number of personnel,” he added.

Former President Donald Trump indicated that the U.S. was ready to launch a second attack on Venezuela if necessary.

“We were prepared for a second wave if it became required—we actually anticipated the need for one, but it seems likely now that it won’t be necessary,” Trump stated.

“The initial wave, or first attack, proved to be so effective that a second might not be needed. However, we’re fully prepared for a second wave, which would be substantially larger,” he concluded.