US Expected 'Significant Resistance' in Maduro Raid

A newly released Department of Justice memo has shed light on the extensive planning and anticipated threats during the US military operation to capture former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. The document, written in December 2025, reveals that American forces prepared for significant resistance from Venezuela's air defense network.

The operation, named Operation Absolute Resolve, involved more than 150 US warplanes and targeted a major military installation in Caracas. While the mission ultimately succeeded with minimal US casualties, the planning phase highlighted serious concerns about the potential for heavy opposition from Venezuelan military forces.

The Department of Justice's Office of Legal Counsel memo, dated December 23, 2025, outlined the specific dangers US forces might encounter. According to the document, planning information from the Department of Defense indicated that US aircraft could face dozens of anti-aircraft systems during the approach to the target.

Assistant Attorney General T. Elliot Gaiser wrote in the memo that US forces were expected to face significant resistance on the approach. The planning documents specifically cited as many as 75 anti-aircraft battery sites along the route to Fort Tiuna, a major military installation in Caracas that hosts defense ministries, critical commands, and official residences.

It is expected that US forces will face significant resistance on the approach.

The memo also noted that Venezuela possessed unspecified weapons capable of downing the helicopters carrying the assault forces. While heavily redacted, the document hinted at potential threats from man-portable air defense systems that could target low-altitude aircraft.

US forces planned extensive pre-assault operations to neutralize Venezuela's air defense network. The memo detailed that over 150 warplanes, including fighter jets, bombers, and drones, would participate in the operation. These aircraft were tasked with clearing a path for low-flying helicopters carrying special operators into downtown Caracas.

The planning emphasized that surprise would be critical to mission success. The document stated that aircraft would serve as escorts and clear emplaced anti-aircraft batteries as needed before the assault force arrived at Fort Tiuna.

• Surface-to-air missile systems were primary targets
• Three airfields were identified for potential destruction
• Pre-assault fire would focus on anti-aircraft batteries
• Helicopter routes were carefully planned to avoid detection

The memo also highlighted concerns about Maduro's wife, Cilia Flores, who was expected to be present at the base. The document described her as known to be more aggressive and combative than her husband.

Venezuela's air defense network relied heavily on Russian-made systems including S-300 batteries, Buk systems, and S-125 Pechora launchers, supplemented by Chinese radars. These systems were believed to be older export variants, though still potentially capable of threatening US aircraft.

Despite long-standing questions about the readiness of Venezuela's air defenses, Pentagon planners considered it necessary to neutralize the network. The memo noted that systems might have been offline or in storage at the time of the attack, but the risk assessment remained high.

Risks to the mission are significant. Success will depend on surprise.

Venezuelan President Maduro had previously claimed that his country possessed thousands of Igla launchers, shoulder-launched missiles designed to hit low-altitude targets. However, the actual state of these systems during the operation remains unclear due to the heavily redacted nature of the planning documents.

Despite the extensive preparations for heavy resistance, Venezuela's air defenses did not shoot down any US military aircraft during the raid. General Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, reported that American forces quickly dismantled the defensive systems once the operation began.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth later commented on the outcome, noting that it seems those Russian air defenses didn't quite work so well. While the US did not face the substantial resistance it expected, some opposition was encountered during the operation.

• Seven US service members were wounded in the raid
• A helicopter took a hit from gunfire but remained flyable
• US forces stormed Maduro's compound under heavy fire
• Dozens of Venezuelan and Cuban security personnel were killed

The operation resulted in widespread destruction at Fort Tiuna, as shown in satellite imagery from early January. Additional damage was visible at Higuerote Airport on Venezuela's northern coast, where a destroyed air defense system and wrecked light aircraft were photographed.

The newly released memo provides unprecedented insight into the planning and execution of a complex military operation that aimed to present itself as a law enforcement action rather than an act of war. The document details how the US could frame the raid while still preparing for potential military confrontation.

While the mission achieved its primary objective of capturing Nicolás Maduro and his wife, the extensive preparations for resistance highlight the perceived threat level from Venezuela's military capabilities. The operation's success with minimal US casualties was attributed to the expertise of joint military forces and the element of surprise.

The aftermath of the raid continues to reveal details about the destruction of Venezuelan military infrastructure and the strategic implications for US-Venezuela relations. The operation marks a significant moment in the ongoing political and military dynamics in the region.