Operation Absolute Resolve: America Unleashes Power, Captures Venezuelan Dictator

Paul Riverbank, 1/9/2026A daring U.S. raid in Caracas ousts Maduro, sparking regional upheaval, conflicting casualty reports, and uncertainty for Venezuela’s future as American officials defend their approach and the world awaits the fallout.

Just days before, under the cover of darkness, US Special Operations undertook an audacious action in Caracas—one that would have made seasoned thriller writers blink. President Nicolás Maduro, a man who’d survived more than one coup attempt, now found himself in US custody alongside his wife, Cilia Flores. Official charges listed narco-trafficking, peddling arms, and acting as a vital node for militant outfits.

Inside the West Wing, there was a quietly celebratory air—a feeling of closure, or at least a reprieve. Vance emphasized, not for the first time, how almost every 48 hours he was at the helm of a huddle with top brass, charting the next step in Venezuela. “Stability in Caracas,” he said, making eye contact with no one in particular, “it’s not just a phrase—believe me, it keeps us awake.”

But the stories coming out of Caracas painted a starker picture. Depending on whose tally you took seriously, the death toll fluctuated wildly: Diosdado Cabello, acting as Venezuela’s interior minister, accused the US of causing some 100 fatalities—a round number that felt heavy with political intent. Meanwhile, the Venezuelan military claimed a lower number, just 23, and from Havana came a separate accounting: 32 Cubans purportedly fallen in the crossfire. In these competing narratives, the truth retreated into the haze that so often follows rapid, violent change.

On the US side, incident reports admitted to injuries among their own: seven wounded, five of whom had already suited up for duty again, two still in hospital care. “With the scale and risk of this kind of mission, coming away with so few casualties is a testament to just how well these teams prepare,” a spokesperson said, though their words pushed little beyond the official line.

Political consequences were swift. Marco Rubio, Secretary of State, took to the airwaves with a grim set to his jaw, promising the end of Iran and Hezbollah’s influence over Venezuela. “No more footholds,” was his declaration—a signal to both allies and adversaries that US policy in the hemisphere had taken a distinctly sharper edge.

Meanwhile, in Caracas, the shock had yet to subside. Acting President Delcy Rodriguez called for a week of national mourning, a gesture that felt as much like a political act as a public one. Residents drifted through the streets, their weariness as visible as the police presence on every corner, a city holding its breath. Some lit candles, others grumbled in the queues for cornmeal or fuel, but everywhere—even among Maduro's critics—there lingered unease about what might follow.

The operation itself, dubbed Absolute Resolve, probably won’t be memorialized in statues or streets, at least not soon. It was too sudden and, truth be told, most Venezuelans were left with more questions than answers. How long would these wounds—physical and otherwise—keep the country suspended in uncertainty?

For US officials, the calendar remains unmarked; next steps feel tentative. Vance summed up his position with the candor of someone used to changing plans on the fly. “My job is what the president asks. Right now, that means staying right in it, doing what’s necessary.” If he looked tired, he didn’t betray it.

The world now turns its gaze to the Caribbean coast, waiting for the logic of events in Caracas to reveal itself. A new set of cards has been dealt, and the stakes—regional stability, American promises, Venezuelan futures—could not be higher. The only certainty lingering in the sticky tropical air is uncertainty itself.

The flurry that followed in the White House press area wasn’t unlike moments after other seismic events—but the mood this time pulsed with something raw. Vice President JD Vance had planted himself at the podium, fielding a barrage of questions, bristling just beneath the surface. Someone shouted about the rumors: had he and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard actually been excluded from critical discussions before the Venezuela raid? Vance’s answer came pin-sharp: “That’s false,” he barked. When the line of inquiry shifted to Gabbard’s supposed exclusion, he barely missed a beat: “Also completely false. We’re a team. Sure, the circle has to shrink sometimes, but that’s just how these things operate.” The notion of pride in secrecy wasn’t lost on anyone in the room.Just days before, under the cover of darkness, US Special Operations undertook an audacious action in Caracas—one that would have made seasoned thriller writers blink. President Nicolás Maduro, a man who’d survived more than one coup attempt, now found himself in US custody alongside his wife, Cilia Flores. Official charges listed narco-trafficking, peddling arms, and acting as a vital node for militant outfits.Inside the West Wing, there was a quietly celebratory air—a feeling of closure, or at least a reprieve. Vance emphasized, not for the first time, how almost every 48 hours he was at the helm of a huddle with top brass, charting the next step in Venezuela. “Stability in Caracas,” he said, making eye contact with no one in particular, “it’s not just a phrase—believe me, it keeps us awake.”But the stories coming out of Caracas painted a starker picture. Depending on whose tally you took seriously, the death toll fluctuated wildly: Diosdado Cabello, acting as Venezuela’s interior minister, accused the US of causing some 100 fatalities—a round number that felt heavy with political intent. Meanwhile, the Venezuelan military claimed a lower number, just 23, and from Havana came a separate accounting: 32 Cubans purportedly fallen in the crossfire. In these competing narratives, the truth retreated into the haze that so often follows rapid, violent change.On the US side, incident reports admitted to injuries among their own: seven wounded, five of whom had already suited up for duty again, two still in hospital care. “With the scale and risk of this kind of mission, coming away with so few casualties is a testament to just how well these teams prepare,” a spokesperson said, though their words pushed little beyond the official line.Political consequences were swift. Marco Rubio, Secretary of State, took to the airwaves with a grim set to his jaw, promising the end of Iran and Hezbollah’s influence over Venezuela. “No more footholds,” was his declaration—a signal to both allies and adversaries that US policy in the hemisphere had taken a distinctly sharper edge.Meanwhile, in Caracas, the shock had yet to subside. Acting President Delcy Rodriguez called for a week of national mourning, a gesture that felt as much like a political act as a public one. Residents drifted through the streets, their weariness as visible as the police presence on every corner, a city holding its breath. Some lit candles, others grumbled in the queues for cornmeal or fuel, but everywhere—even among Maduro's critics—there lingered unease about what might follow.The operation itself, dubbed Absolute Resolve, probably won’t be memorialized in statues or streets, at least not soon. It was too sudden and, truth be told, most Venezuelans were left with more questions than answers. How long would these wounds—physical and otherwise—keep the country suspended in uncertainty?For US officials, the calendar remains unmarked; next steps feel tentative. Vance summed up his position with the candor of someone used to changing plans on the fly. “My job is what the president asks. Right now, that means staying right in it, doing what’s necessary.” If he looked tired, he didn’t betray it.The world now turns its gaze to the Caribbean coast, waiting for the logic of events in Caracas to reveal itself. A new set of cards has been dealt, and the stakes—regional stability, American promises, Venezuelan futures—could not be higher. The only certainty lingering in the sticky tropical air is uncertainty itself.