Operation Southern Spear

Nicolás Maduro Moros is a Venezuelan politician and former union leader who became President of Venezuela in 2013. On 3 January 2026, US forces captured Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores; they were transported to the US and charged with drug trafficking to which they pleaded not guilty. Although he was de facto removed from power, according to the Venezuelan government and interim president Delcy Rodríguez, he is still the de jure president of Venezuela. Prior to his presidency, he served as the vice president of Venezuela under President Hugo Chávez from 2012 to 2013 and as minister of foreign affairs from 2006 to 2012.

Marco Antonio Rubio is an American politician, attorney, and diplomat serving since 2025 as the 72nd United States secretary of state. He is also the acting national security advisor. A member of the Republican Party, Rubio represented Florida in the United States Senate from 2011 to 2025.

On 3 January 2026, the United States launched a military strike in Venezuela and captured incumbent Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. The US operation, codenamed Operation Absolute Resolve, began around 2 a.m. local time, when explosions were observed. The US Armed Forces bombed infrastructure across northern Venezuela to suppress air defenses as an apprehension force attacked Maduro's compound in Caracas. Maduro and Flores were transported to New York City by US forces to face their trial there. If the operation is considered a military conflict, at 2 hours and 28 minutes it would qualify as one of the shortest wars in history.

Peter Brian Hegseth is an American government official and former television personality who has served since 2025 as the 29th United States secretary of defense.

Cilia Adela Flores de Maduro is a Venezuelan lawyer and politician who served as the first lady of Venezuela from 2013 to 2026, as the wife of Nicolás Maduro, the 53rd president of Venezuela. A member of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela, she served as president of National Assembly of Venezuela from 2006 to 2011. On 3 January 2026, she and her husband were captured and extracted out of Venezuela following the United States intervention, resulting in his de facto removal from power.

2025–2026 US military anti-drug trafficking operation

USS Iwo Jima (LHD-7) is a Wasp-class amphibious assault ship of the United States Navy. The ship was named for the Battle of Iwo Jima of World War II. The ship was commissioned in 2001 and is in service.

United States Navy attacks on alleged Venezuelan drug vessels under questionable legal grounds

United States operation in the Caribbean

American military operation

2026 federal trial of Nicolás Maduro and Cilia Flores

proposed military intervention plan by US President Donald Trump