For months, US spies had been gathering intelligence on Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, tracking his movements and daily activities meticulously. The operation, dubbed Operation Absolute Resolve, was finalized in early December after extensive planning that included creating a full-scale replica of Maduro's safe house for training purposes.

In this unprecedented military action reminiscent of Cold War interventions, details were closely held within the military, bypassing Congressional oversight until the last moment. The operation was designed for surprise, waiting for favorable conditions to proceed.

The order finally came on a Friday evening, allowing US forces to execute a complex maneuver involving over 150 aircraft, many of which were deployed above Caracas while a team seized Maduro at about 2 AM local time.

Trump watched the mission live from Mar-a-Lago, praising the military's performance while critics voiced concern over the legality and the implications for international norms.