A significant US military operation recently culminated in the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. The raid, which occurred in early January 2026, saw US Special Operations forces conduct a 'large-scale strike' on Venezuela, reportedly involving more than 150 military aircraft to disable air defenses before ground troops were deployed in Caracas. Venezuelan authorities confirmed the capture, with Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello announcing that approximately 100 people were killed during the operation. The Times of India article, citing a 'Maduro guard's chilling account,' sensationally claimed '20 men killed hundreds' and described a 'massacre' where Venezuelan forces were 'technologically unmatched.' However, corroborating reports indicate a much larger scale of US involvement, making the '20 men' figure from the guard's account highly exaggerated and likely a misrepresentation of the actual operation. While initial reports from a senior Venezuelan official to The New York Times mentioned at least 40 casualties, the official death toll from Venezuela later rose to 100. Maduro and his wife were subsequently flown to New York City to face federal drug trafficking and other charges, stemming from a 2020 indictment. The US government, under President Donald Trump, stated it would 'run the country' until a 'safe, proper, and judicious transition' could be established, also indicating intentions to open Venezuela's oil sector to US companies. This intervention represents the largest US military operation in Latin America since the 1989 invasion of Panama and carries significant geopolitical implications for the region.