Anna Hartz
Life in Venezuela has been tense for years. People struggled with shortages, rising prices, and political uncertainty.
Many wondered how the government would maintain control. That tension exploded early on January 3, 2026, when the United States launched a sudden attack in Caracas.
Maduro Pleads Not Guilty
On that day, US forces targeted the home and offices of President Nicolás Maduro, according to O2. Special Forces captured Maduro and his wife and transported them to New York. In the United States, Maduro was charged with participating in a narcotics conspiracy and bringing cocaine into the country.
He pleaded not guilty. President Donald Trump said the United States would supervise Venezuela and its natural resources. He also said Caracas was ready to cooperate and canceled a planned second wave of attacks.
Military experts praised the operation for being fast and effective. American media later reported on what happened from the perspective of people on the ground. The New York Post shared an account from a member of Maduro’s security detail, a guard stationed at a military base in Caracas.
“we didn’t stand a chance”
According to the guard, US forces first disabled the base’s radar systems. Then drones appeared, flying over their positions. Eight helicopters followed. Twenty American soldiers took part in the mission.
“They were very technologically advanced. They didn’t look like anyone we’d fought before. There were hundreds of us, but we didn’t stand a chance. They fired with such precision and speed. It felt like each soldier was firing 300 rounds a minute,” the guard said.
The witness described unusual effects from the attack. “Suddenly, I felt as if my head was exploding from the inside,” he said. Many started bleeding from the nose and some vomited blood. The soldiers fell to the ground and could not move. The guard said the Americans had no casualties, but hundreds of Venezuelans were injured or killed.
He added that their weapons and technology were far superior. “We had no way to compete with them. I’ve never seen anything like it,” he said.
The White House has not commented on the report, and the Pentagon has not confirmed whether sonic weapons were used during the attack.
Sources: O2, The New York Post
