Months of spying, ground forces and more than 150 aircraft were involved in the daring US operation against Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro.
Key details about how the US prepared and executed its operation – known as Operation Absolute Resolve – over months were revealed in a press conference on Saturday by General Dan Caine, the highest-ranking military officer of the armed forces.
Caine, who is chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, described the operation as discreet and precise and said it was the culmination of months of planning and rehearsal.
Follow the latest on US actions in Venezuela
He cautioned reporters that he would share more details in a way that wouldn’t compromise any tactics, techniques or procedures due to the possibility that this type of operation may be used again.
US intelligence agencies watched and waited
Caine praised US intelligence agencies, saying the mission wouldn’t have been possible without the work of various intelligence agencies, including the CIA, NSA, and NCA.
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He set out how months of intelligence work enabled Washington to locate and understand Maduro’s behaviour, patterns and routines.
By early December, US forces were set, he said.
These forces remained poised to strike in the weeks before Christmas, through to the New Year, awaiting the right requirements.
Weather conditions were crucial to the raid, Mr Caine said, as optimal weather would minimise the potential for harm to civilians and personnel – while also maximising the element of surprise.
On Friday, at 10.46pm in Washington (3.46am on Saturday in London), the weather in Venezuela had broken enough for President Trump to order the mission’s go-ahead.
American forces strike
More than 150 aircraft launched as part of the operation.
Helicopters took off with the extraction force and began approaching Venezuela while just 100ft above the water.
Forces, including F-22s, F-35s, F-18s, E-18s, E-2s, B-1 bombers, and support aircraft, also closed in on the South American country.
As they approached Caracas, Venezuela’s capital, the Joint Air Component began using weapons to dismantle and disable the air defence systems in Venezuela.
Mr Caine set out how officials believe US forces “had maintained the element of surprise” as the helicopter force approached its target at low level.
US helicopters arrived at Maduro’s compound at 1.01am EST (6.04am GMT), with the apprehension force descending into the building.
The general explained that US helicopters came under fire and responded with “overwhelming force”.
One of the helicopters was hit, but it remained flyable.
Ground forces were provided real-time updates by air and ground intelligence teams to ensure they could navigate the compound with as much information and as little risk as possible.
The seizure and extraction of Maduro and his wife
Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, who are both indicted by the US, were described by the general as having given up and were taken into custody.
CNN reported that both Maduro and his wife were dragged from their bedroom by US forces.
After seizing the president and his wife, helicopters were called in to extract the force and their captives.
Despite fighter aircraft and drones engaging in suppressive fire, the general said there were multiple “self-defence engagements” as the force began to withdraw.
However, the group managed to extract successfully and was over water at 3.29am EST (8.29am GMT).
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Both Maduro and his wife were transported to the US Navy’s amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima.
President Trump later uploaded a photo of a captive Maduro on board the ship.
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In the press conference, Trump boasted of how “not a single American service member was killed, and not a single piece of American equipment was lost”.
He added that “many helicopters, many planes, many people” were involved in the operation.
The president described the operation as “an assault like people have not seen since World War Two”.
