Captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro is escorted as he heads towards the Daniel Patrick Manhattan United States Courthouse for an initial appearance to face U.S. federal charges including narco-terrorism, conspiracy, drug trafficking, money laundering and others in New York City, U.S., January 5, 2026. (Adam Gray/Reuters)
DEFIANT MADURO DECLARES HE IS A 'PRISONER OF WAR' IN FIRST US COURT APPEARANCE
Officials said Tuesday that 24 Venezuelan security officials were killed during the raid, along with 32 Cuban military and police officers, who were responsible for guarding Maduro.
Venezuelan officials have claimed the operation also killed civilians, but those claims have not been independently verified.
Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said Trump ordered the "apprehension mission" Friday night, and it involved 150 planes, including B-1 Lancer bombers and helicopters from 20 bases.
U.S. intelligence officers had reportedly tracked Maduro’s whereabouts for months ahead of the operation.
Smoke rises from a dock after explosions were heard at La Guaira port, Venezuela, Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026, after the U.S. launched strikes at Caracas. (Matias Delacroix/The Associated Press)
One helicopter was hit during the operation, which began at 2:10 a.m. local time and lasted around two and a half hours, but remained flyable.
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At the same time, a U.S. cyber attack had rendered much of Caracas, Venezuela, powerless, leaving the city and its communication lines in the dark.
Maduro and his wife were flown to New York to face federal charges of drug trafficking and narco-terrorism.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/seven-us-service-members-injured-venezuela-raid-capture-maduro-official-says