04.01.2026 14:41
According to a report by the British news agency Reuters, based on sources close to the matter, planning for the operation carried out by the U.S. to capture Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife began months in advance, and it was claimed that a person close to Maduro was working for the CIA.
Details have emerged regarding the operation in which the United States conducted airstrikes on Venezuela and captured President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, taking them out of the country.
A ONE-TO-ONE COPY OF THE SHELTER WAS CREATED
According to a report by the British news agency Reuters, based on sources close to the matter, planning for the operation began months in advance, and detailed drills were conducted. The U.S. Army's elite special forces unit "Delta Force" created a one-to-one replica of Maduro's shelter as part of the operation's preparations and held extensive meetings on how to enter the heavily guarded residence.
A NAME CLOSE TO MADURO WORKED FOR THE CIA
The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) of the United States had a small team on the ground since August, examining Maduro's daily routine. Two different sources speaking to Reuters stated that the CIA had a source close to Maduro, and this individual was on standby to inform them of his exact location during the operation. After all preparations were completed, Trump approved the operation four days ago and monitored it live with his advisors at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida.
11 WARSHIPS AND F-35 AIRCRAFT WERE DEPLOYED
In the report by Reuters, it was stated that the U.S. conducted significant military preparations in the Caribbean before the operation, deploying an aircraft carrier, 11 warships, and more than ten F-35 aircraft to the region. It was reported that over 15,000 soldiers were sent to the area for a mission that U.S. officials have long described as anti-drug operations.
One of the sources speaking to the British news agency mentioned that Trump's Homeland Security Advisor Stephen Miller, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and CIA Director John Ratcliffe held regular meetings and phone calls on the subject for months, often meeting with the president as well.
Sources also reported that the Pentagon quietly deployed fuel supply tankers, drones, and electronic warfare aircraft to the region. U.S. Army Chief of Staff General John Daniel Caine stated that the operation was carried out with more than 150 aircraft taking off from 20 bases, including F-35 and F-22 fighter jets as well as B-1 bombers. Caine noted that around 03:20 local time, a U.S. Army helicopter carrying Maduro and his wife was flying over the sea.