Date: January 3, 2026
Location: Fort Tiuna, Caracas, Venezuela
The Midnight Blackout
The “blackout” wasn’t just a power failure; it was a targeted electronic warfare strike. U.S. Cyber Command reportedly neutralized the Caracas power grid and communication antennas at approximately 1:50 AM local time. By the time the first Delta Force helicopters crossed the coastline at 100 feet above the water, the city’s air defenses were blind.
The “Bum-Rush” at Fort Tiuna
Maduro was not in a palace; he was in a bunker. He and his wife, Cilia Flores, were located in their residence within Fort Tiuna, the most heavily fortified military installation in Venezuela.
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The Breach: U.S. teams used “massive blowtorches” to bypass reinforced steel doors.
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The Near-Miss: Trump confirmed that Maduro nearly made it to a “safe room”—a solid steel box designed for high-value targets. He was “bum-rushed” by Delta operators just seconds before he could seal the door.
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The Extraction: The entire kinetic operation lasted less than 30 minutes. By 3:29 AM ET, Maduro was aboard the USS Iwo Jima, blindfolded and in plastic restraints.
The New York Indictment
The reason he is in New York and not a military prison is the Southern District of New York (SDNY).
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The Charges: Attorney General Pam Bondi unsealed a superseding indictment for Narco-Terrorism Conspiracy.
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The Goal: By charging him as a drug trafficker rather than a political leader, the U.S. is stripping him of “sovereign immunity.” He is being treated like a cartel boss, not a President.
The Global “Declaration of War”
You may have noted that Russia and China are calling this a declaration of war. Here is the raw friction:
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Russia: Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov called the raid “armed aggression” and is demanding an emergency UN Security Council meeting.
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China: The Foreign Ministry labeled it a “hegemonic act” that violates international law.
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The Oil Factor: Trump has already stated the U.S. will “run” the country temporarily to “get the oil flowing.” This has sent global energy markets into a tailspin, as Venezuela holds the world’s largest proven oil reserves.
The Power Vacuum: Who Takes the Keys?
While Vice President Delcy Rodríguez has declared herself the acting leader from a secure location, the U.S. is signaling a different path.
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The “Legitimate” Leader: Many eyes are on Edmundo González, currently in exile in Spain, to return and lead a transitional government.
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The “Second Wave”: General Dan Caine confirmed that a “second wave” of U.S. forces is standing by to intervene if the Venezuelan military tries to retaliate or if “bad actors” (Russian or Cuban advisors) attempt to seize control of the oil fields.
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