U.S. Army Delta Force operators executed a precise overnight raid in Caracas, capturing Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores without any American fatalities. President Donald Trump confirmed the elite unit’s central role in the operation, which involved helicopters from the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment inserting forces into a heavily fortified compound amid supporting airstrikes that neutralized Venezuelan defenses.
The raid, part of a broader military effort involving over 150 aircraft, unfolded early on January 3, 2026. Delta Force commandos breached Maduro’s residence at Fuerte Tiuna military complex shortly after 2 a.m. local time. Officials described the mission as months in preparation, including construction of a replica safe house for rehearsals and detailed intelligence from CIA sources on Maduro’s routines.
Trump praised the operation’s execution, noting forces practiced every detail, including potential use of blowtorches on steel doors. Helicopters faced incoming fire but remained operational, allowing swift extraction of the targets. Maduro and his wife surrendered and were flown out of Venezuela aboard the USS Iwo Jima before transfer to New York for federal charges.
Delta Force, formally the 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta, stands as the Army’s premier counterterrorism and direct-action unit. Founded in 1977 and based at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, it specializes in high-value target captures, hostage rescues, and sensitive missions often coordinated with CIA intelligence.
This operation marks one of Delta Force’s most prominent public acknowledgments, drawing comparisons to past successes like the 2019 raid that eliminated ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi and the 1990 capture of Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega. No U.S. personnel died, though some injuries occurred among Venezuelan guards.
The mission’s success underscores American special operations capabilities in executing complex raids against fortified positions in hostile territory. Trump watched the live feed from Mar-a-Lago alongside top officials, describing it as “extremely complex” yet flawlessly performed.
Maduro now faces longstanding U.S. indictments for narco-terrorism, drug trafficking, and weapons charges in the Southern District of New York. His capture ends over a decade of authoritarian rule marked by economic collapse and international sanctions.
American forces demonstrated overwhelming precision and dominance, sending a clear message to adversarial regimes. Delta Force’s performance reinforces its reputation as the nation’s sharpest tool for decisive action against high-threat targets.