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How the US Captured Maduro in Two Minutes, Fierce Gunfight - CNN Analysis

Published January 23, 2026, 18:12
How the US Captured Maduro in Two Minutes, Fierce Gunfight - CNN Analysis

The US operation to capture Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro involved a fierce gunfight, putting US helicopters at great risk as they descended on a heavily fortified complex in Caracas, according to CNN analysis. CNN analyzed more than 50 videos and images from eyewitnesses, mapping the flight paths of US helicopters and finding intense gunfire exchanges with Venezuelan air defenses. The analysis highlights that the US helicopters were particularly vulnerable during the two minutes it took to land and take off from Maduro's complex. The raid had been prepared in advance, with the destruction of Venezuelan radar, communications and air defense facilities creating a corridor for US aircraft. According to General Dan Caine, more than 150 aircraft took off from 20 bases for the operation. Video reveals the removal of Nicolás Maduro from Venezuela, while the operation was described as “organized chaos” by experts, due to the simultaneous attack on multiple targets and the rapid deployment of US forces.