General Dan Caine, chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, said the US military operation targeting Venezuela, codenamed Operation Absolute Resolve, was the result of extensive preparation and coordination.
“This operation, known as Operation Absolute Resolve, was the culmination of months of planning and rehearsal,” Caine said.
He added that the army remains ready for similar missions in the future.
“There is always a chance that we will be tasked with this type of mission again.
Months of interdepartmental coordination
Caine emphasized that the operation was not improvised, but built on long-term coordination across US agencies and military areas.
“Our interagency work began months ago, building on decades of experience integrating complex air, land, space and maritime operations,” he said.
Describing the approach to the mission, Caine said U.S. forces exercised restraint and discipline.
“We watched, we waited, we prepared. We remained patient and professional.”
More than 150 aircraft deployed
The chairman revealed the sheer scale of the operation, which involved aircraft launches from various locations across the hemisphere.
“The operation involved more than 150 aircraft taking off across the Western Hemisphere in close coordination,” Caine said.
He described the range of military assets deployed during the mission.
“The force included F-22s, F-35s, F-18s, EA-18s, E-2s, B-1 bombers and other support aircraft, as well as numerous remotely piloted drones.”
The timing and execution of the raid on the Maduro complex
Caine provided precise details on the timing and execution of the airstrike, which targeted the facility of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
“We arrived at Maduro’s compound at 1:01 a.m. Eastern Standard Time or 2:01 a.m. local time in Caracas,” he said.
He said the holding force was moving quickly to secure the objective.
“The containment force descended on Maduro’s compound and moved with speed, precision and discipline towards their objective, isolating the area to ensure the safety and protection of ground forces.”
Sending the mission forward
Caine concluded by reiterating that U.S. forces are ready to act again if ordered.
“There is always a chance that we will be tasked with this type of mission again,” he said, emphasizing continued military readiness.
