On Saturday, General Dan Caine, a leading figure in the Joint Chiefs, shared insights into a collaborative effort between the U.S. military and intelligence agencies that successfully led to the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. Named “Operation Absolute Resolve,” this mission saw the coordination of over 150 aircraft.

Caine explained that the operation, which unfolded “during the darkest hours of January 2nd,” was the result of extensive planning and rehearsals. He emphasized that such an endeavor could only be undertaken by the U.S. military due to its complexity and scope.

The General highlighted the mission’s intricate nature, describing it as a feat of precision and collaboration within the joint forces. The operation involved precise timing and coordination of 150 aircraft across the Western Hemisphere, all converging to enable an interdiction force to reach downtown Caracas while maintaining tactical surprise. Caine provided these details during a Saturday appearance alongside President Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago.

He further noted that the team overcame challenging weather conditions, which required exceptional piloting skills to navigate through oceans, mountains, and low clouds. At 10:46 p.m. Eastern Time, President Trump authorized the mission, offering the team his support with the words, “Good luck and Godspeed,” Caine recounted.

President Donald Trump listens as General Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, addresses the audience at Mar-a-Lago on January 3, 2026, in Palm Beach, Florida. (Alex Brandon/AP)

“And those words were transmitted to the entire joint force. Over the course of the night, aircraft began launching from 20 different bases on land and sea across the Western Hemisphere,” Caine added, noting that, “Our youngest crew member was 20 and our oldest crew member was 49.” 

The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said the intelligence agencies, including the CIA, National Secruity Agency (NSA) and National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) assisted in the effort. 

“As the night began, the helicopters took off with the extraction force, which included law enforcement officers, and began their flight into Venezuela at 100 feet above the water,” Caine said. “As they approached Venezuelan shores, the United States began layering different effects provided by Spacecom, Cybercom and other members of the interagency to create a pathway.”

President Donald Trump shared a photo of captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro aboard the USS Iwo Jima after strikes on Venezuela, on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026. (Truth Social/ @realDonaldTrump)

“Overhead, those forces were protected by aircraft from the United States Marines, the United States Navy, the United States Air Force, and the Air National Guard. The force included F-22s, F-35s, F-18s, EA-18s, E-2s, B-1 bombers, and other support aircraft, as well as numerous remotely piloted drones,” he continued. 

“As the force began to approach Caracas, the joint air component began dismantling and disabling the air defense systems in Venezuela, employing weapons to ensure the safe passage of the helicopters into the target area,” according to Caine. 

“We arrived at Maduro’s compound at 1:01 a.m. Eastern Standard Time, or 2:01 a.m. Caracas local time, and the apprehension force descended into Maduro’s compound and moved with speed, precision and discipline towards their objective and isolated the area to ensure the safety and security of the ground force, while apprehending the indicted persons,” Caine said.

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine speaks during a news conference on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026, in Palm Beach, Fla., following the U.S. capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.  (Alex Brandon/AP)

“On arrival into the target area, the helicopters came under fire, and they replied with that fire with overwhelming force and self-defense. One of our aircraft was hit but remained flyable. And as the president said earlier today, all of our aircraft came home and that aircraft remained flyable during the rest of the mission,” he added. 

Maduro and his wife then “gave up” and were taken into custody by the Justice Department, with no loss of life to U.S. forces, Caine told reporters.

“After securing the indicted persons, the force began to prep for departure. Helicopters were called in to exfiltrate the extraction force, while fighter aircraft and remotely piloted aircraft provided overhead coverage and suppressive fire. There were multiple self-defense engagements as the force began to withdraw out of Venezuela,” he added. 

Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro addresses members of the armed forces, Bolivarian Militia, police and civilians during a rally against a possible escalation of U.S. actions toward the country, at Fort Tiuna military base in Caracas, Venezuela, on Nov. 25, 2025.  (Leonardo Fernandez Viloria/Reuters)

“The force successfully exfiltrated and returned to their afloat launch bases, and the force was over the water at 3:29 a.m. Eastern Standard Time, with indicted persons on board, and both Maduro and his wife were embarked aboard the USS Iwo Jima,” Caine concluded.