“They knew what he ate and even what pets he had”: this is how Operation Absolute Resolve took place
The New York Times revealed some of the secrets behind Operation Absolute Resolve, which allowed the United States to capture Nicolás Maduro.
The start of the year could hardly have been more eventful. Early on Saturday morning, President of the United States Donald Trump confirmed the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, who arrived in New York on Friday afternoon, where he will stand trial.
The United States managed to catch the Venezuelan leader by surprise, and The New York Times revealed details of the operation carried out by the Trump administration to arrest Maduro, known as “Absolute Resolve”.
The world witnessed what may be remembered as one of the most significant military operations ever conducted by the United States intelligence apparatus, after Delta Force successfully entered Caracas to capture the Venezuelan dictator.
The operation was meticulous and had been planned for several months. According to the prestigious New York-based newspaper, the CIA had been operating in Caracas since August 2025.
Gen. Dan "Razin" Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff: "This operation, known as Operation Absolute Resolve, was discreet, precise, and... the culmination of months of planning and rehearsal — an operation that, frankly, only the United States military could undertake." pic.twitter.com/VdcL5kbu7j
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) January 3, 2026
“The intelligence gathered on the Venezuelan leader’s daily movements, combined with a source close to Maduro and a fleet of stealth drones secretly flying over the area, allowed the agency to decipher minute details of his routines,” the newspaper reported.
The United States closely studied Nicolás Maduro. “They knew where he went, what he ate, and even what pets he had,” sources close to the operation told the outlet, speaking on condition of anonymity.
In addition, General Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, provided further details of the operation, noting that more than 150 aircraft were mobilised, all coordinated to enter Caracas and then leave with the dictator and his wife in custody.
“Our air and ground intelligence teams provided real-time updates to ground forces, ensuring they could move safely through a complex environment without taking unnecessary risks,” he added.
During his press conference on Saturday, President Trump also offered details of the mission and, with a visibly proud expression, said that “the military told me there was no other country capable of something like this”.
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Trump also claimed that Maduro tried unsuccessfully to escape. “He was trying to get to a safe place,” Trump said, adding, “It was a very thick, very heavy door. But he couldn’t get to it. He got to the door, but he couldn’t close it.”
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