Delta Force, backed by precise CIA intelligence and careful planning, executed a rapid operation that led to the capture of Nicolás Maduro after pinpointing his location and rehearsing the raid in advance.
What made the mission work was not luck but meticulous preparation and human intelligence. Delta Force did the hard, dangerous work, but they did not operate without eyes on the ground. The CIA provided the close, actionable information that let operators move with confidence.
Langley reportedly had a small team in place since August, and sources say an asset close to Maduro tracked his movements in real time. They knew exactly where he was when the airstrikes began on January 3. That kind of intelligence changes a risky raid into a precise strike.
Special forces trained against a mock-up of the safehouse before moving in and refined entry techniques until they fit the layout perfectly. Delta Force built a replica of the safehouse and practiced before the mission. They carried out Maduro like a dog (via Reuters):
Elite U.S. troops, including the Army’s Delta Force, created an exact replica of Maduro’s safe house and practiced how they would enter the strongly fortified residence.
The CIA had a small team on the ground starting in August who were able to provide insight into Maduro’s pattern of life that made grabbing him seamless, according to one source familiar with the matter.
Two other sources told Reuters the intelligence agency also had an asset close to Maduro who would monitor his movements and was poised to pinpoint his exact location as the operation unfolded.
With the pieces in place, Trump approved the operation four days ago, but military and intelligence planners suggested he wait for better weather and less cloud cover. At 10:46 p.m. EST on Friday, Trump gave the final go ahead for what would be known as Operation Absolute Resolve, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine told reporters.
Trump, surrounded by his advisers at his Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Florida, watched a live stream of the events.
How the hours-long operation unfolded is based on interviews with four sources familiar with the matter and details Trump himself has revealed.
“I’ve done some pretty good ones, but I’ve never seen anything like this,” Trump said on Fox News just hours after the mission was completed.
Watching the video feed from Mar-a-Lago while commanders moved pieces into place is exactly the kind of centralized decision-making a president should be ready for. Commanders delayed the final go-ahead until weather and visibility were optimal, and that patience paid off. When the window opened, they took it.
The raid had a cinematic edge but it was rooted in tradecraft: surveillance, an embedded asset, a practiced entry, and precision rather than a prolonged bombing campaign. Minus an extended air campaign, this was pretty much like how 1997’s Air Force One opened: a special forces team raiding the presidential palace and nabbing a dictator. That comparison isn’t flair, it’s about method and speed.
Americans who back decisive action saw this as validation of what coordinated intelligence and elite units can accomplish. Praise for the troops has poured in from many quarters, and conservatives are clear-eyed about what this operation represents: competent planning matched with bold execution. The focus now shifts to secure detention and legal follow-through.
Reactions have been widespread and loud: social media is full of videos, commentary, and analysis reflecting the shock and relief of a fast, clean operation. Military observers are parsing the logistics while pundits debate the political fallout. This one from the White House:
Whatever the long-term geopolitical consequences, the immediate takeaway for supporters is straightforward: when intelligence and special operations work together, they deliver results. The men and women who planned and executed this deserve close study, not cheap criticism. The operation will be examined for years as a template for future targeted actions.
