Table of Contents
COMMANDOS from US special forces destroyed air defense systems to raid Nicolás Maduro’s heavily fortified safe house in a remarkable military operation conducted within Venezuela.
Operation Absolute Resolve involved approximately 150 military aircraft, including fighter jets, bombers, and reconnaissance planes, which launched from 20 military bases and Navy ships.
Image of a fire at Fuerte Tiuna, Venezuela’s largest military complex after the raid
Personnel beside a U.S. Navy MH-60S Knighthawk helicopter on the flight deck of the amphibious assault ship USS Iwo JimaCredit: Reuters
President Donald Trump, alongside CIA Director John Ratcliffe (L) and Secretary of State Marco Rubio (R), monitoring ‘Operation Absolute Resolve’Credit: EPA
In a rapid series of events, Caracas was shaken by explosions, accompanied by the sound of attack helicopters.
The strikes, aimed at a major military base and an airbase, among other locations, persisted for nearly an hour.
Within moments, dictator Maduro – who has ruled the country for the past 12 years – was escorted into a military helicopter along with his wife and transported back to the US.
The extraordinary operation commenced between midnight and 1am Caracas time when the American strike force began to position themselves “during the darkest hours.”
At around 2am, multiple explosions reverberated across Caracas, with plumes of smoke rising over the city.
General Dan Caine, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, stated that fighter jets including F22 Raptors, F-35 stealth fighters, and Navy F-18 Hornets were deployed in Venezuela to eliminate the country's air defenses.
Fuerte Tiuna, Venezuela’s largest military complex located in Caracas, and Carlota airbase in the north were among the targets of the strikes.
La Guaira, north of the capital, where Caracas’ airport and port are situated, was also hit.
Tomahawk missiles launched from US Navy destroyers also targeted Russian long-range S-300 surface-to-air (SAM) missile batteries and shorter-range Pechora and Pantsir missile sites operated by Cubans, sources informed The Sun.
Additionally, Electronic warfare Growler aircraft disrupted radar systems, disabling communications and crippling power grids throughout Venezuela, they added.
All this was executed to pave the way for the US Air Force's 160 Special Operations Regiment’s fleet of MH-60 (Black Hawk variant) and MH-47 (Chinook variant) helicopters, designed for high-risk infiltration and extraction missions.
The helicopters, carrying Delta and possibly SEAL teams, departed from the USS Gerald Ford aircraft carrier and a special forces vessel dubbed “Ghost Ship.”
The naval assets had been positioned close to Venezuela for weeks following the US's mobilization of the largest military buildup since the Iraq war.
As the US strike force provided air cover, radar and thermal night vision enabled the helicopters to navigate at low altitudes through the mountain valleys surrounding the city.
Smoke rises from explosions in Caracas, Venezuela, following US airstrikesCredit: Reuters
Damaged vehicles at La Carlota military air baseCredit: Reuters
The US Army’s Delta Force and FBI agents soon landed, storming Venezuela’s primary army headquarters located in the
Eze Chidiebere Paul
I'm dedicated to creating high-quality content that informs, inspires, and delights. If you have any questions or suggestions, don't hesitate to get in touch. Happy reading!
