One Week after Maduro’s Capture Chavismo Calls for a ‘Grand March’
Supporters of the ruling party participate in a demonstration this Wednesday in Caracas. On Saturday, January 3, in the early morning, the U.S. attacked several points in Caracas and other regions of Venezuela, an action that ended with the capture of Maduro and Flores.
Chavismo has called on its supporters to participate in a “great national march” this Saturday, marking one week since the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Deputy Cilia Flores, by US forces amid attacks in Caracas and three states near the capital. In the call, the ruling United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) calls on the population to a “maximum mobilization” and to take to the streets again “in support of the prompt freedom” of Maduro, who a year ago today was sworn in for a questionable third consecutive term, and of Flores.
Since the capture, Chavista supporters, activists from the ruling party and various pro-government authorities have mobilized daily, mainly in Caracas, to condemn what they call a “kidnapping” and to demand the release of both persons from the administration of US President Donald Trump. The march this Saturday is expected to include the mayor of the Libertador municipality of Caracas, Admiral and former Interior Minister Carmen Meléndez, and the head of government of the capital and vice president of Mobilization and Events of the PSUV, Nahum Fernández, among other authorities.
On Saturday, January 3, in the early morning, the U.S. attacked several points in Caracas and other regions of Venezuela, an action that ended with the capture of Maduro and Flores, who are detained in New York, accused of crimes associated with “narco-terrorism”. In Maduro’s place, Executive Vice President Delcy Rodríguez assumed the role of acting president, following an order from the Supreme Court of Justice (TSJ), and since then the official has sought to guarantee the country’s stability, while also building incipient diplomatic bridges with Washington.
On Friday, the Venezuelan government announced the start of an “exploratory diplomatic process” with the U.S., aimed at “reestablishing diplomatic missions in both countries.” They also confirmed the arrival of a delegation of “diplomatic officials” from the U.S. State Department to the country, while also reporting that Caracas will send a delegation to Washington.
Mysteries Still Persist Surrounding the Intelligence Operation to Capture Maduro in Venezuela
Fort Tiuna pictured above, Venezuela’s largest military complex, was targeted by US attacks as part of the operation. A week after the dramatic US operation in Venezuela that culminated in the capture of Nicolás Maduro, details of the intelligence surrounding the mission are beginning to become clear, although some mysteries still remain.
Intelligence
The mission required months of planning and intelligence gathering. It is believed that in August the CIA sent a team of undercover agents to Venezuela. The United States does not have an operational embassy in the country, so the team could not use diplomatic cover and operated in what is known in the intelligence world as a “restricted zone.” Their objective was to identify targets and recruit individuals who could provide assistance. US officials have stated that they had a particular source who provided detailed information about Maduro’s whereabouts, which would have been crucial to the operation.
The identity of these types of sources is usually strictly protected, but it soon became known that this was a “government” source who must have been very close to Maduro and part of his inner circle to know where he would be and when. This has generated intense speculation about who she is and what has happened to her. However, her identity has not yet been made public. All the human intelligence gathered on the ground was integrated into a “mosaic” of information to plan the operation, in conjunction with technical intelligence such as maps and satellite images.
The Mission
The magnitude, speed, and success of the operation were unprecedented. “Everything worked perfectly. That doesn’t happen often,” explains David Fitzgerald, former head of Latin American operations for the CIA, who also participated in mission planning with the U.S. military. “It is not military tactics that drive the operation, but intelligence.” Around 150 aircraft participated in the mission, with helicopters flying just thirty meters above the ground to reach Maduro’s compound. However, some mysteries remain. One of them is exactly how the United States managed to turn off the lights in Caracas to allow the arrival of Special Forces.
“The lights of Caracas went out largely thanks to a certain experience we possess; it was dark and it was dangerous,” declared US President Donald Trump. The fact that the U.S. Cyber Command received public thanks for its role in the operation has led to speculation that U.S. military hackers infiltrated Venezuelan networks in advance to shut down the power grid at the precise moment, but details are scarce.
The failure of Chinese and Russian air defenses has also generated speculation about the type of jamming or electronic warfare technology that the United States deployed in the air to support the operation. The U.S. Space Command, which operates satellites, also received recognition for creating a “route” for Special Forces to enter undetected. Stealth drones are also believed to have been deployed. Exact details of the capabilities used are likely to remain classified, but America’s adversaries will do everything they can to understand what happened.
The Battle
Those who planned the complex operations say it’s extraordinary that everything went according to plan, something that rarely happens. One helicopter was hit by gunfire but was able to continue flying, and no members of the U.S. forces were killed. Few details are yet known about the battle that took place at Maduro’s compound, Fort Tiuna. The Cuban government reported that 32 of its citizens were killed by U.S. forces. They were bodyguards provided by Cuba to protect Maduro. The Caribbean nation not only provides bodyguards but also extensive security support to the regime.
“Within Maduro’s immediate perimeter, there were probably no Venezuelan security agents, and in the outer perimeter perhaps a mix of both,” Fitzgerald says. The fact that they proved so ineffective has also raised doubts about whether some elements of the regime facilitated the mission in any way. US forces also managed to reach Maduro as he tried to lock himself in a fortified room, but before he could close the door. They had blowtorches and explosives ready to open the door if necessary, but the speed of the arrest suggests, once again, an incredibly detailed knowledge of the layout of the complex.
The Plan
The CIA conducted a classified assessment prior to the operation, analyzing what might happen if Maduro were removed from power. Analysts examined several options and reportedly concluded that working with elements of the existing regime offered greater chances of stability than attempting to install the opposition in exile in power. This helped solidify the idea that the United States should collaborate with Delcy Rodríguez, the vice president. It is believed that there were secret and unofficial contacts with elements of the Maduro regime before the operation to discuss how the different parties could position themselves in the face of possible scenarios. The exact details of these contacts remain a mystery, but they likely explain a great deal about why the mission was undertaken, why it was successful, and what the plan is going forward.
