Seven U.S. service members were wounded during a covert operation to apprehend Nicolás Maduro in Venezuela. According to a War Department official, five of those service members have returned to duty, while two continue their recovery. “They are receiving excellent medical care and are well on their way to recovery,” the official stated. The operation, known as Operation Absolute Resolve, involved highly skilled personnel from the Army’s Delta Force and underscores the complexities of military interventions.
The mission commenced with a surprise landing in Caracas, targeting Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. It highlights the meticulous planning and execution required for such risky endeavors. Gen. Dan Caine, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, revealed that the operation was ordered by Trump after intelligence reports successfully tracked Maduro’s movements for months. The scale of the mission was considerable, employing 150 aircraft, including B-1 Lancer bombers and helicopters from 20 different bases.
Details of the operation remain partially obscured. Official accounts indicate that 24 members of the Venezuelan security forces were killed, along with 32 Cuban military personnel tasked with protecting the Venezuelan leader. While Venezuelan officials suggested that civilians may have also died, no independent confirmation has emerged to validate these assertions.
The operation unfolded in the early hours, beginning at 2:10 a.m. local time and lasting approximately two and a half hours. A helicopter did sustain damage during the operation but managed to remain operational, which reflects the resilience of the U.S. military resources involved. In an additional tactic to ensure mission success, a U.S. cyber attack occurred simultaneously, knocking out much of Caracas’s power and significantly disrupting communication lines.
Maduro and his spouse were ultimately transported to New York to confront federal charges linked to drug trafficking and narco-terrorism. The gravity of these charges suggests a broader context for the operation, linking national security interests directly to the actions taken on the ground. This mission exemplifies the lengths to which the U.S. government believes it must go to neutralize threats posed by figures like Maduro, whose reign is marked by widespread allegations of corruption and violence.
Overall, Operation Absolute Resolve sheds light on the intricate interplay of military strategy, international relations, and law enforcement. As the situation in Venezuela continues to evolve, the repercussions of this operation are likely to resonate through both domestic and international spheres for some time to come.
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