Seven U.S. service members injured in covert Maduro operation; Maduro and wife charged in New York
Seven U.S. service members were injured in an operation to capture Maduro, while Maduro and his wife face drug-trafficking and narco-terrorism charges in New York.
Overview
Seven U.S. service members were injured during a covert operation targeting Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, illustrating a high-risk mission with uncertain immediate outcomes.
The operation aimed to capture Maduro, raising questions about the mission's objectives, scale, and whether any further arrests or charges may follow.
Separately, Maduro and his wife face federal charges of drug trafficking and narco-terrorism filed in New York, linking the operation to legal proceedings.
The incidents involve U.S. service members and the Venezuelan president, highlighting how military operations can intersect with international legal actions.
Officials have not yet released additional details about casualty status, operational scope, or potential follow-up actions, leaving questions about timing, authorization, and ongoing investigations.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources treat the Maduro operation as a narrowly described, technically framed event rather than a political stand-in. They rely on official briefings, stress interagency coordination, weather timing, and detailed planning, and they present diverse expert and official quotes without endorsing or condemning the action. Uncertainties and operational risks are acknowledged without moralizing.
Sources (4)
FAQ
The operation, codenamed Operation Absolute Resolve, occurred on January 3, 2026.
Seven U.S. service members were injured during the raid; some were taken to Brook Army Medical Center, but no U.S. lives were lost.
Roughly 200 U.S. forces, including Delta Force, conducted an overnight raid on Maduro's residence in Caracas using helicopters, fighter jets, and bombers to suppress air defenses; the operation lasted about 2.5 hours with 30 minutes on the ground.
Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores face federal charges of drug trafficking and narco-terrorism in New York.
U.S. forces withdrew after the raid, leaving Maduro's officials like Vice President Delcy Rodríguez in charge; a U.S. military presence remains off Venezuela's coast, and plans exist to work with these officials for stability and oil production revival.
History
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