The U.S. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Mark Milley, provided details of the operation in Venezuela.
Speaking at a press conference alongside President Donald Trump and the Secretary of Defense, General Milley stated that the operation was conducted under President Trump’s orders to bring Nicolás Maduro and his wife to justice.
He explained that the operation was planned over several months and built on decades of experience, with U.S. ground, air, and naval forces coordinating with intelligence agencies. He emphasized that the mission could not have succeeded without the support of the CIA, NSA, NGA, and other intelligence organizations.
Operation Details
- Over 150 aircraft participated in the mission.
- The Joint Forces considered failure not an option, and the timing was chosen to minimize military casualties.
- President Trump gave the final order to execute the mission the previous night.
General Milley detailed that planes were launched from 20 different land and naval bases, including F-22, F-35, F-18, EA-18, E-2, B-1 bombers, and other support aircraft.
As the forces approached Caracas, U.S. air forces neutralized Venezuelan air defenses, clearing the way for helicopters to reach their targets. The operation entered Maduro’s compound at 2 a.m. local time, with troops moving in.
During the mission, some helicopters came under fire, and one helicopter was targeted but remained airworthy. After the operation, all aircraft returned safely.
The Chairman said that the U.S. Department of Justice took custody of Maduro and his wife, and multiple self-defense actions were carried out during their return from Venezuela.
It is noted that the U.S. military attacked Venezuela, with Delta Force targeting specific objectives in Caracas. Venezuela condemned the attack as aggression, claiming the operation aimed to seize its oil and mineral resources.
