The tactics, The CIA Source: Inside the US operation to capture Maduro

At 4:21 on Saturday morning, President Donald Trump posted on his Truth Social platform that the United States had carried out an operation to capture Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife.

The move came as a surprise, but sources familiar with the matter said planning for one of the most complex US operations in recent years had been underway for months and included detailed rehearsals.

Elite US troops, including the Army’s Delta Force, built an exact replica of Maduro’s safe house and practised how to enter the heavily fortified residence.

According to one source, the CIA had a small team on the ground from August that provided insight into Maduro’s daily movements, helping to make the capture smooth.

Two other sources told Reuters that the agency also had an asset close to Maduro who monitored his movements and was ready to identify his exact location as the operation unfolded.

With preparations complete, Trump approved the operation four days ago, though military and intelligence planners advised waiting for better weather and reduced cloud cover. At 10:46 p.m. EST on Friday, Trump gave the final approval for what became known as Operation Absolute Resolve, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine told reporters.

Trump, surrounded by advisers at his Mar a Lago club in Palm Beach, Florida, watched the events unfold via live stream.

Details of the hours long operation are based on interviews with four sources familiar with the matter and information Trump has publicly shared.

“I’ve done some pretty good ones, but I’ve never seen anything like this,” Trump told Fox News hours after the mission ended.

MASSIVE OPERATION

The Pentagon oversaw a large military buildup in the Caribbean, deploying an aircraft carrier, 11 warships and more than a dozen F 35 aircraft. In total, more than 15,000 troops were sent to the region for what US officials have described as anti drug operations.

One source said Trump aide Stephen Miller, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and CIA Director John Ratcliffe formed a core group that worked on the issue for months, holding regular and sometimes daily meetings and calls. They also met frequently with the president.

Late Friday night into early Saturday, Trump and his advisers met as several US aircraft took off and carried out strikes on targets in and around Caracas, including air defense systems, according to a US military official.

Caine said more than 150 aircraft were involved, launched from 20 bases across the Western Hemisphere, including F 35 and F 22 jets and B 1 bombers.

“We had a fighter jet for every possible situation,” Trump told Fox News Channel’s “Fox & Friends.”

Sources told Reuters the Pentagon also quietly deployed refueling tankers, drones and aircraft used for electronic jamming to the region.

US officials said the airstrikes targeted military sites. Reuters images from the La Carlota air base in Caracas showed burned military vehicles belonging to a Venezuelan anti aircraft unit.

As the strikes continued, US Special Forces entered Caracas heavily armed, carrying equipment including a blowtorch in case steel doors had to be cut at Maduro’s location.

Around 1 a.m. EST on Saturday, Caine said the troops reached Maduro’s compound in downtown Caracas while under fire. One helicopter was hit but remained operational.

Videos posted on social media by residents showed helicopters flying low over the city.

After reaching Maduro’s safe house, the troops, accompanied by FBI agents, entered the residence, which Trump described as a “very highly guarded … fortress.”

“They just broke in, and they broke into places that were not really able to be broke into, you know, steel doors that were put there for just this reason,” Trump said. “They got taken out in a matter of seconds.”

MADURO IN CUSTODY

Once inside the safe house, Caine said Maduro and his wife surrendered. Trump said Maduro attempted to reach a safe room but failed to close the door.

“He got bum rushed so fast that he didn’t get into that,” Trump said.

Trump said some US forces were wounded, but none were killed.

As the operation progressed, Rubio began informing lawmakers that it was underway. Officials told Reuters that notifications were sent only after the operation had begun, not beforehand as is normally done for key lawmakers with oversight roles.

As US troops exited Venezuelan territory, Caine said they were involved in multiple self defense engagements. By 3:20 a.m. EST, the helicopters were over water with Maduro and his wife on board.

Nearly seven hours after Trump announced the operation on Truth Social, he made another post.

It showed a photograph of the captured Venezuelan leader blindfolded, handcuffed and wearing grey sweatpants.

“Nicolas Maduro on board the USS Iwo Jima,” Trump wrote, referring to the amphibious assault ship..CONTINUE MORE READING>>>