President verified that Delta Force — the most elite counterterrorism and direct-action unit of the U.S. Army — executed the bold overnight mission in Venezuela that resulted in the seizure of dictator Nicolás Maduro and his spouse.
Delta Force, formally designated as 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment–Delta, focuses on dangerous assignments concerning the apprehension or elimination of priority targets, along with other covert operations demanding rapidity, confidentiality, and accuracy.
The unit functions under the U.S. Special Operations Command and is generally sent into action when operations involve major political or strategic importance.
According to , Delta Force is stationed at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, the center for U.S. Army special operations instruction. The unit has previously participated in several of the most significant American military campaigns, including the 2003 apprehension of Saddam Hussein. The clandestine unit also carried out multiple counterterrorism operations in Afghanistan and other parts of the Middle East, focusing on high-ranking al-Qaeda members.
Delta Force is led by a high-ranking Army official, though the commander’s identity remains confidential, as does the precise number of personnel in the unit.
The number of operatives involved in the Venezuela mission remains unknown.
During the assault, helicopters from the U.S. Army’s 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, nicknamed the “Night Stalkers,” transported the special operations troops into Venezuela, according to officials.
At least in Venezuela’s capital, Caracas, and low-altitude planes were observed above the city around 2 a.m. local time, based on reports.
provided intelligence to the Department of War that assisted in directing Delta Force to Maduro and his spouse, who President Donald Trump stated were captured during the American military mission.
Authorities stressed that although the CIA was instrumental in tracing and pinpointing Maduro’s location, U.S. military special operations personnel performed the actual seizure.
Trump informed “FOX & Friends Weekend” early Saturday that the American military staff participating in the operation “performed an amazing feat.”
“They trained and drilled like no one has ever witnessed,” Trump stated. “And authentic military experts informed me that no other nation on the planet could execute such a maneuver.”
Trump indicated he observed the mission develop as it happened.
“The entire landing operation, the quantity of aircraft — which was enormous — the number of helicopters, various kinds of helicopters, different types of s,” Trump remarked. “We possessed a combat aircraft for every conceivable scenario.”
“They simply forced entry into locations that were supposedly impenetrable,” he added. “I’ve never witnessed anything comparable.”
Trump said but was apprehended prior to reaching a safe zone.
Trump also mentioned that casualties occurred during the mission, though there were no American deaths and no aircraft were destroyed.
Maduro and his spouse were placed on the USS Iwo Jima and are anticipated to be moved to the United States, where they might be presented in federal court in as early as Monday, has learned.
’ Rachel Wolf, David Spunt, Jennifer Griffin and Lucas Tomlinson contributed to this report.