Operation Absolute Resolve particulars the aviation-driven mission that introduced over 150 plane collectively to help the seize of Nicolás Maduro and his spouse in Caracas.
Within the early hours of Saturday, 3 January 2026, an aviation-heavy U.S. army operation unfolded over and round Venezuela that culminated within the seize of President Nicolás Maduro and his spouse, Cilia Flores.
The mission, generally known as Operation Absolute Resolve, relied on airpower, coordination, and timing on a scale hardly ever seen within the Western Hemisphere.
If the date feels acquainted, it ought to. The final time a US operation of comparable scope occurred within the area was precisely 36 years earlier, when American forces captured Panamanian chief Manuel Noriega throughout Operation Simply Trigger on 3 January 1990.
A Hemisphere-Spanning Air Marketing campaign
Greater than 150 plane had been concerned within the strike bundle that supported Operation Absolute Resolve. Fighters, bombers, surveillance platforms, refueling tankers, and drones launched from no less than 20 bases throughout the Western Hemisphere after President Donald Trump approved the operation on Friday, 2 January.
The president gave the order to proceed with the operation at roughly 2246 Washington time on 2 January.
Confirmed contributors included property from the US Air Power, US Navy, US Marine Corps, and the Air Nationwide Guard. US Military rotary-wing plane had been additionally seemingly concerned, although their participation has not but been formally confirmed.
Open-source imagery signifies that F-22 Raptors had been forward-positioned at Roosevelt Roads Naval Station in Puerto Rico, sharing the ramp with Vermont Air Nationwide Guard F-35As, US Marine Corps F-35Bs, and different US army plane. Naval forces had been additionally lively all through the area, together with the plane service USS Gerald R. Ford and the amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima, supported by a community of working places throughout Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands, El Salvador, the Dominican Republic, and bases inside the continental United States.
Impartial analysts assessing publicly out there knowledge recommend that B-1B Lancer bombers launched from Dyess Air Power Base in Texas. Within the days main as much as the operation, civilian flight-tracking platforms recorded each F-22s and B-1s heading south from their US dwelling stations, exercise that will have mirrored coaching runs, diversionary actions, or missions postponed by unfavorable climate. Individually, movies shared on-line appeared to seize the presence of an RQ-170 Sentinel stealth reconnaissance drone over Venezuelan airspace.
Operation Absolute Resolve and the Struggle for the Air Area
Months within the making, Operation Absolute Resolve had reportedly been able to execute since early December 2025. Within the weeks main as much as the mission, intelligence-gathering efforts had been performed by businesses together with the CIA, NSA, and the Nationwide Geospatial-Intelligence Company (NGA).
On the night time of two–3 January, the climate circumstances required for the operation lastly materialized. President Trump ordered the operation to proceed. US Area Command and US Cyber Command, working alongside intelligence businesses, helped clear the trail for an American rotary-wing interdiction power that approached Caracas at roughly 100 toes above the ocean. Concurrently, US forces disrupted Venezuelan electrical infrastructure, plunging giant elements of the capital into darkness.
Air Power Gen. Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Workers, acknowledged the complexity of the mission, saying, “The phrase integration doesn’t clarify the sheer complexity of such a mission, an extraction so exact it concerned greater than 150 plane launching throughout the western hemisphere in shut coordination, all coming collectively in time and place to layer results for a single goal, to get an interdiction power into downtown Caracas whereas sustaining the factor of tactical shock. Failure of 1 part of this well-oiled machine would have endangered the complete mission.”
Caine famous that US servicemembers concerned ranged in age from 20 to 49. “The purpose of our air part is, was, and at all times might be, to guard the helicopters and the bottom power and get them to the goal and get them dwelling,” he added.
Helicopters Over Caracas
MH-47 Chinook and MH-60 Seahawk helicopters, seemingly however not but confirmed to be from the US Military’s one hundred and sixtieth Particular Operations Aviation Regiment, had been seen and heard over Caracas through the operation. Protected by fighters, bombers, and drones, the helicopters encountered no opposition en path to town.
In line with CBS Information, members of Delta Power captured Nicolás Maduro and Cilia Flores at their dwelling, which is situated inside the perimeter of the Fort Tiuna army set up. Previous to their arrival, US forces dismantled Venezuelan air protection techniques. Weapons had been additionally employed “to make sure the secure passage of the helicopters into the goal space,” Caine stated.
The helicopters reached the compound at 0101 Caracas time and did come below enemy fireplace over the premises. As US forces and the FBI took the couple into custody, the helicopters returned for extraction. Through the withdrawal, Caine stated there have been “a number of self-defense engagements.” One American helicopter sustained harm however remained flyable and accomplished the mission.
President Trump confirmed that a number of US personnel had been injured, although none fatally. US officers informed CBS Information and CNN that every one injured servicemembers are in secure situation. On-line sources point out they had been flown to Kelly Discipline in San Antonio, Texas.
Final night time, the climate broke simply sufficient, clearing a path that solely probably the most expert aviators on the earth might maneuver by—ocean, mountain, low cloud ceilings.
Air Power Gen. Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Workers
Climate had delayed the operation for days. Nevertheless, Friday night time was totally different, and Caine stated the chance needed to be taken, saying, “Final night time, the climate broke simply sufficient, clearing a path that solely probably the most expert aviators on the earth might maneuver by—ocean, mountain, low cloud ceilings.”
From the Caribbean to New York
The operation basically concluded at 0329 native time when the power was safely again over the water. Maduro and Flores had been initially taken aboard the usIwo Jima, then transferred to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
From there, they had been flown to New York Stewart Worldwide Airport (SWF) aboard a Division of Justice Boeing 757, touchdown at 1632 native time Saturday afternoon, 3 January. Each might be tried within the Southern District of New York on narco-terrorism costs.
It’s fascinating to notice that SWF is a public/army airport and residential to the Stewart Air Nationwide Guard Base and the a hundred and fifth Airlift Wing (105 AW). The power was seemingly chosen because the US entry level for Maduro as a result of the setting might be managed, political theater might be minimized, a safe switch of custody can happen, and it avoids the chaos of a JFK-style media circus. Moreover, as an ANG base, it clearly has safe ramps and hangars, managed airspace, hardened perimeter safety, and the power to maneuver high-profile detainees with out public publicity.
Trump acknowledged the dangers concerned, noting {that a} second wave of US airpower had been standing by.
“That is an assault that would have gone very, very badly,” Trump stated. “We might have misplaced lots of people final night time. We might have misplaced loads of dignity. We might have misplaced loads of gear. We’re able to go once more if we now have to,” he stated.
Plane used all through Operation Absolute Resolve included F-22 Raptors securing the airspace, F-35 Lightning II variants offering digital warfare (EW) help, Navy F/A-18 Tremendous Hornets for conventional air missions and shut air help, E/A-18G Growlers jamming radar and communications, E-2D Hawkeyes managing the airborne battlespace, B-1B Lancers putting army infrastructure, and KC-135 Stratotankers enabling long-range operations. Quite a few remotely piloted plane had been additionally used, although US officers haven’t specified sorts.
What we’ve witnessed at the moment is a robust demonstration of America’s joint power. We predict, we develop, we prepare, we rehearse, we debrief, we rehearse repeatedly, to not get it proper, however to make sure that we can not get it improper.
Air Power Gen. Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Workers
Reflecting on the mission, Caine stated, “What we’ve witnessed at the moment is a robust demonstration of America’s joint power. We predict, we develop, we prepare, we rehearse, we debrief, we rehearse repeatedly, to not get it proper, however to make sure that we can not get it improper.”
In the end, Operation Absolute Resolve exhibits the continued power and reliability of American airpower. When precision, timing, and coordination matter most, the power to assemble and make use of a posh aviation power throughout huge distances stays a defining power. When the mission calls for it, the USA nonetheless possesses the aviation functionality to behave decisively, anyplace.
We right here at AvGeekery salute the courageous women and men concerned in Operation Absolute Resolve.
