How did the U.S. capture one of the most protected world leaders within minutes and with zero casualties?
According to former Commanding General of United States Army Europe Ben Hodges, the mission relied on weeks of preparation, elite joint forces, cyber operations, and intelligence so precise they knew exactly where Maduro would be and what tools they might need.
Power was cut in Caracas through cyber disruption, air defenses were blinded or stood down, and billions in Russian S-300 and BUK systems failed to bring down even one helicopter.
Despite Cuban intelligence, Venezuelan forces, and layered security around Maduro, the raid succeeded in minutes, suggesting deep penetration of the regime and likely help from inside.
Only Maduro and his wife were taken, while the rest of the regime remains intact, signaling this was not full regime change but a calculated decapitation strike.
With Venezuela’s oil, foreign alliances, and regional power balance at stake, the operation sends a warning to rivals and their allies.
I sit down with @general_ben to break down how the strike was pulled off, why Russian systems failed, and what this signals about the new world order.
