Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, provided a very detailed account of how the U.S. military’s mission to apprehend Nicholas Maduro and his wife took place early Saturday morning.
Caine said that more than 150 aircraft were involved, including fighter aircraft, bombers, surveillance aircraft, intelligence aircraft, and helicopters. He said the entire joint force was involved in the mission (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Space Force, intelligence agencies).
The helicopters arrived at the compound at 1:01 a.m. Eastern time, 2:01 a.m. local time. Upon arrival, they came under fire and responded in self-defense with “overwhelming force,” Caine said.
One of the helicopters was hit, but remained flyable. Maduro and his wife were taken into custody by Justice Department officials “assisted by incredible U.S. military forces ” Caine said. He did not provide any details of any injured Americans.
When the helicopters left the compound, they were protected by fighter aircraft and drones that provided suppressive fire.
The extraction force was over water at 3:39 a.m. Eastern time, Caine said.
Maduro and wife were then taken to the USS Iwo Jima.
The military worked closely with the U.S. intelligence agencies: CIA, NGA, NSA. “We watched, we prepared, we remained patient and professional,” said Caine.
U.S. intelligence knew Maduro’s pattern of life — where he moved, lived, traveled, ate, and worked, he said.
The mission was ready in early December waiting for the right day to maximize the element of surprise, he said.
