Seven US troops injured in operation to capture Maduro in Caracas

Seven U.S. service members were wounded during the military operation to capture Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, an administration official told US media on January 6.

Five of the injured service members have already returned to duty, while two remain in recovery. 

“They are receiving excellent medical care and are well on their way to recovery,” the official said. “The fact that this extremely complex and gruelling mission was successfully executed with so few injuries is a testament to the expertise of our joint warriors.” 

The operation, a covert mission known as Operation Absolute Resolve, involved U.S. service members landing in Caracas, Venezuela, on January 3 to conduct strikes on Venezuelan territory and seize Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. The mission was led by the Army’s elite special operations unit, Delta Force. 

During the raid, U.S. forces engaged in intense action that resulted in significant casualties among Maduro’s security personnel, including Venezuelan and allied forces, though official Venezuelan claims of civilian deaths have not been independently verified. 

General Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said that Trump ordered the “apprehension mission” and that it involved extensive use of aircraft, including more than 150 planes and helicopters from 20 bases. U.S. intelligence officials had reportedly tracked Maduro’s movements for months prior to the operation. 

One helicopter was hit during the operation, which began at 2:10 a.m. local time and lasted approximately two and a half hours, though it remained operational after the strike. 

In conjunction with the ground operation, U.S. cyber units conducted an attack that left much of Caracas without power, disrupting communications across the city.

Following the mission, Maduro and his wife were transported to New York, where they are facing federal charges, including drug trafficking and narco-terrorism.

By Tamilla Hasanova