American intelligence agencies had been monitoring Maduro's every move for months. An American ”source” inside the Venezuelan government was deployed to collect information on where Maduro slept, what he ate, what he wore, and even the pets he kept.
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Using months of close surveillance, military exercises and modern technology, the United States has taken control of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in a "dramatic" military operation.
The mission, dubbed 'Operation Absolute Resolve', arrested Maduro, 63, and his wife Cilia Flores from their safe house on Saturday morning.
According to US officials, the operation is the largest military intervention in South America since the Cold War. US intelligence agencies have been monitoring Maduro's every move for months. An American 'source' within the Venezuelan government was deployed to collect information on where Maduro sleeps, what he eats, what he wears and even the pets he keeps.
To perfect the mission, US elite forces had practiced for months by building a full-size model of Maduro's 'safe house' in Caracas. President Donald Trump had authorized the attack four days in advance, but bad weather forced him to give the go-ahead order at 10:46 p.m. on Friday.
President Trump watched the operation live from his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida, not from the White House Situation Room. He watched the mission alongside CIA Director John Ratcliffe and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Speaking to Fox & Friends on Saturday morning, Trump said, "It was an amazing sight. I was watching it like I was watching a television show. The speed and strength of our men were amazing."
At around 2:00 a.m. on Saturday, loud explosions were heard in the Venezuelan capital, Caracas. The United States had deployed more than 150 aircraft, bombers and fighter jets. The US had used its 'special technology' to cut off the electricity in Caracas before the attack.
According to the BBC, five major military sites, including 'La Carlota Airfield' and 'Port La Guira', were targeted. Eyewitness Daniela said, 'We woke up to the sound of explosions, it was dark everywhere, only the sky was lit by the flash of the bomb explosion.'
Using 'blow-torch' to break down the door
US special forces 'Delta Force' commandos met stiff resistance when they entered Maduro's residence, which is considered a fortress. Despite Maduro's bodyguards opening fire, the US team used modern equipment and 'blow-torch' to break through the strong steel doors and enter.
Maduro tried to escape to a safe room, but before he could close the door, US forces captured him. According to Trump, there were no casualties on the US side, although there were some injuries.
Maduro has been taken into custody and taken to New York, where US officials claim he will be tried on charges of drug trafficking (narco-terrorism). The US had previously announced a $50 million reward for Maduro's arrest.
However, this military intervention has drawn global criticism. Brazilian President Lula da Silva has condemned it as a 'dangerous precedent for the international community'. In the US Congress, opposition leader Chuck Schumer has also commented that this action, which was taken without informing Congress, was 'reckless'.
