Maduro captured: The Caracas raid and what's next

Early in the morning of January 3rd, 2025, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro was captured by US Delta Force operators and DEA agents. The operation was dubbed Absolute Resolve, and this is what we know about it.

In this video, we break down what’s confirmed about the timeline, the forces and aircraft reportedly used (F-22s, F-35s, Super Hornets, Growlers, Hawkeyes, B-1s, and drones), and why you’d bring 150 aircraft to what was an “arrest.” We’ll also map what was hit around Caracas, including Fort Tiuna, La Guaira, and key airfields, and what we still don’t know, like the exact capture site, the munitions used, and the true casualty count.

Then we get to the part nobody has a clean answer for yet: what happens next. The administration is signaling everything from a managed transition to the possibility of follow-on strikes, while the Pentagon says there are no U.S. troops on the ground. With Delcy Rodríguez now positioned as the interim power center, and opposition figures like María Corina Machado and Edmundo González still in the mix, Venezuela’s next move could shape the entire region.

Written by: Kyle Gunn

Edited by: Kyle Gunn

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