During Maduro Raid in Venezuela, a Close Call for Helicopters and Trump’s Plan

New York Times - WorldCenter-LeftEN 6 min read 100% complete by Eric Schmitt and Greg JaffeJanuary 7, 2026 at 11:46 PM

AI Summary

long article 6 min

In early Saturday morning, U.S. Army helicopters carrying Delta Force commandos executed a raid in Caracas, Venezuela, targeting President Nicolás Maduro. The operation, codenamed Absolute Resolve, involved over 150 aircraft launched from 20 regional bases, supported by a cyberattack and radar-evading fighter jets. As the helicopters approached Maduro's location, they encountered gunfire, and one Chinook helicopter was hit, injuring the pilot. Despite the close call, the mission's success remained uncertain as the damaged helicopter struggled to stay airborne. President Trump, who described the operation as perfectly executed, has grown more confident in using military force for foreign policy objectives. He threatened similar action against Venezuela's interim leader if she resists U.S. directives.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Russian 30% Syria 30% Iran 30% Absolute Resolve 40% Delcy Rodríguez 40% MH-47 Chinook ×250% Caracas 60% U.S. Army Delta Force 70% United States ×280% Nicolás Maduro (Maduro) ×480% Donald Trump ×790% Venezuela ×590%

Keywords

venezuela raid 100% military operation 80% u.s. commandos 70% nicolás maduro 70% helicopters 60% donald trump 60% foreign policy 50% air defenses 40% delta force 40%