Work on the plan to capture Maduro was going on for several months, Trump (Photo- Reuters)
Reuters, Washington. At 4.21 am on Saturday, President Donald Trump wrote a message on his internet media platform 'Truth Social' - America has carried out a bold operation to capture Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife. This action was unexpected.
Work on the plan had been going on for several months.
But sources familiar with the matter say that the planning of this complex operation had been in the works for several months, with detailed rehearsals also taking place. Elite troops, including the US Army's Delta Force, built an exact replica of Maduro's safe haven and practiced how they would enter the heavily fortified residence.
According to sources, a small CIA team had been present in Venezuela since August, providing information about Maduro's lifestyle. This made it easier to catch them.
Senior Trump aide Stephen Miller, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and CIA Director John Ratcliffe formed a core team to work on the issue for months. There were regular meetings and phone calls between them. He also often met President Trump.
Agent kept an eye on Maduro
The intelligence agency also had contact with an agent close to Maduro, who was monitoring his movements and was ready to trace his exact location during the operation. After all preparations were completed, Trump had approved the operation four days ago, but military and intelligence planners had suggested him to wait for better weather and fewer clouds.
Trump watched the live telecast of the operation
The operation to capture Maduro – Operation Absolute Resolve – began in the early hours of Saturday. Trump, surrounded by advisers, watched a live telecast of the campaign at his Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Florida. A few hours after the completion of the campaign, Trump said on Fox News - I have run some great campaigns. But never seen this before.
Soldiers deployed in Caribbean region
The Pentagon has made extensive deployment of military forces to the Caribbean region. Under this, one aircraft carrier, 11 warships and more than a dozen F-35 aircraft have been sent. In total, more than 15,000 troops have been sent to the region, which US officials have long described as an anti-narcotics operation.
A fighter plane for every situation
Trump and his advisers were talking to each other late Friday night and early Saturday when several American planes flew in and attacked targets in and around Caracas.
Top US Army official General Dan Kane said on Saturday that more than 150 aircraft were involved in the operation. Trump told Fox News that we had a fighter plane for every situation.