Condition of US Troops Injured in Venezuela Raid

A covert operation intended to capture Venezuela's former president, Nicolás Maduro, led to the injury of seven American soldiers over the weekend. A defense official has shared insights into their recovery status with Business Insider on Tuesday.

Among the injured, five have already returned to their duties, while two are still recuperating, receiving attentive medical treatment with promising signs of recovery.

President Donald Trump disclosed on Saturday morning, shortly after the mission's conclusion, that some soldiers were harmed as US forces targeted Maduro's stronghold to detain him and his spouse, Cilia Flores.

Trump's Update on Injured Personnel

Later, Trump assured that the injured personnel were 'in good condition' and emphasized that no fatalities or significant loss of equipment occurred during the intense mission, despite a helicopter taking damage yet remaining in service.

The defense leader remarked that the limited number of injuries sustained amid such a demanding operation underscores the proficiency and capabilities of the US joint military teams.

Precisely what injuries the soldiers encountered remain unspecified, and the circumstances of their occurrence also remain unclear. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth noted that approximately 200 US military personnel participated in the incursion into Caracas's central district.

Operation Absolute Resolve Plan and Execution

The operation, designated Absolute Resolve, was the result of extensive strategizing and practice runs, including the construction of an exact replica of Maduro's compound. The facility, described by Trump on Saturday as heavily fortified, was likened to a fortress.

Apprehension squads, consisting of law enforcement and special operations troops, were deployed using low-altitude helicopters. Meanwhile, various aircraft types—ranging from fighter jets and bombers to drones—cleared their path by neutralizing Venezuela's air defenses.

Dan Caine, chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, highlighted to reporters that night in Caracas, the personnel in the sky demonstrated their readiness to sacrifice themselves for the troops on the ground.

Under intense opposition gunfire, US forces assaulted the compound. During the engagement, which spanned late Friday into Saturday morning, injuries to personnel were reported, though all personnel safely extricated themselves.