U.S. President Donald Trump holds a press conference as Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and General Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, look on following a U.S. strike on Venezuela where President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were captured, from Trump's Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Florida, U.S., January 3, 2026. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst
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CNBC TV1803-01-2026, 22:43

US Special Forces Capture Maduro in Daring Venezuela Raid

  • US President Donald Trump announced a daring mission to capture Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife.
  • The operation involved elite US troops like Delta Force, who rehearsed in a mock-up of Maduro's fortified safe house.
  • CIA had a ground team and an asset close to Maduro, providing crucial intelligence on his movements.
  • Massive military buildup in the Caribbean, airstrikes in Caracas, and Special Forces breaching Maduro's "fortress" led to his capture.
  • Maduro was captured trying to reach a safe room and is being transferred to New York for trial via USS Iwo Jima.

Why It Matters: US forces executed a complex, intelligence-driven operation to capture Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.

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