🔗 Share this article From within the Venezuelan capital stronghold to a Manhattan courtroom: The Venezuelan leader's apprehension in photographs as well as maps. The US state the armed forces mission aimed at apprehending the South American nation's president involved many weeks of planning, yet the moment the US President gave the order to launch, the mission dubbed "Absolute Resolve" was completed in about 150 minutes. The shocking early-morning strike this past weekend signified a historic incident within contemporary international relations and led directly to the detention of Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores de Maduro. Captured by soldiers belonging to an elite American military force when they tried to escape inside a fortified panic room, the couple are now detained in a detention centre within New York City and face drug trafficking and terrorism indictments. The Dawn Assault against Fuerte Tiuna With daybreak on Saturday, the extent of the armed intervention in Caracas, the nation's primary city, was clear. Photographs of the vast military base, a massive army installation in which senior leadership live, show destroyed structures as well as charred, smoking vehicles. It was at this compound where Maduro and his wife were captured, Venezuelan ruling party leader Nahum Fernández stated. The major military base, the country's biggest military complex, was hit in American airstrikes early on Saturday morning. Hours Earlier - The President Gives the Order "Operation Absolute Resolve" began amid reports of explosions at approximately 02:00 local time (6:00 Greenwich Mean Time). American forces cut power across the capital, Trump later described, calling it "dark and deadly". The goal was to disable Venezuela's air defense systems and clear the path for US military helicopters to get to Fuerte Tiuna. "We assessed that we successfully kept totally the advantage of surprise," a senior military officer stated. Targeted sites encompassed the base, a maritime facility and an airfield. Images depict Fuerte Tiuna engulfed in flames, with huge flames seen for miles. Venezuela announced a state of emergency following the American attacks. Residents reported how US military helicopters flew low over Caracas, en route to Fuerte Tiuna. Some of the helicopters were shot at, but were still able to fly, military leaders said. "It was significant weapons fire," Trump added. American aircraft flying over Caracas, with plumes of smoke from prior bombings clearly visible. The Rapid Ground Assault Once on the ground, forces from an elite special operations unit, moved quickly. They entered to the compound at 02:01 local time, and the presidential couple surrendered without resistance, according to accounts. But, more details emerged. They tried to escape into a safe place, described as a heavily fortified bunker. "The safe place was constructed of steel, and he wasn't able to get to the door as our personnel were too quick. It featured an extremely heavy door, a massive door," the President told reporters. He reached to the door. He was unable to close it." However, even assuming they had succeeded to get into the safe room, forces could have breached it in about "under a minute." From Caracas to New York City Now in US custody, the couple were transported approximately 3,400 kilometers, to Manhattan. They were flown out of Caracas via chopper, and transferred to the USS Iwo Jima, a naval vessel positioned in the Caribbean. The operation was completed "over the water" by 04:29. Aboard the vessel that an iconic image of the whole operation emerged - Maduro shackled, wearing ear protectors and darkened eyewear resembling opaque glasses. An image of Maduro reportedly captured aboard the warship. After leaving the ship, he was first flown to the US Navy base in Cuba. They were then flown via official aircraft to Stewart Air National Guard Base in New York state, and then via helicopter into New York City. An aircraft transporting the detainees touches down on a landing pad in Manhattan. The Venezuelan leader was spotted flashing a peace sign upon arrival at a heliport in the city. Heavy security was present around the landing zone as the Maduros arrived in New York City. Facing Justice on US Territory That same day, a video was released depicting Maduro at the federal drug agency's main office in New York. The couple are now detained at a federal holding facility in the city. They have been charged with conspiracy to commit narco-terrorism and import cocaine, owning machine guns and destructive devices, and conspiracy to possess machine guns and destructive devices to use against America. They are set to encounter the full wrath of American justice in the United States within US courtrooms," a senior legal official declared. Footage documents the leader's entry in US and transport to detention.