Lt. Col. Maginnis reveals details of the operation that captured Venezuela's ex-leader

The operation to capture former Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro unfolded after months of strategic planning, extensive intelligence gathering, and meticulous preparation by elite U.S. operatives.

Troops rehearsed breaching steel doors and trained inside a full-scale mock‑up of Maduro’s compound to ensure every detail of the mission was accounted for.

Military teams had been on standby for days, awaiting favorable weather and a window that would minimize the risk of civilian casualties. More than 150 aircraft were deployed in the operation, including fixed‑wing fighters, bombers, drones, and surveillance planes.

Lt. Col. Robert Maginnis spoke with The National News Desk's Jan Jeffcoat revealing new insight into the dramatic and historic operation that led to Maduro’s capture—an effort that relied on tight coordination across multiple federal agencies, CIA assets on the ground, and extraordinary bravery from those involved.

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