Images Reveal Destruction at Fuerte Tiuna Following Maduro's Capture

During a significant military operation on Saturday, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro was detained at Fuerte Tiuna, a major military site in Caracas, amidst U.S. military involvement.

President Trump disclosed that Venezuelan officials were "detained and evacuated from the nation" early Saturday morning, affirming the large-scale U.S. operation.

CBS News discovered through a CIA informant within the Venezuelan government that Maduro was eventually captured at Fuerte Tiuna following reports of disturbances in Caracas. Nahum Fernández, a leading figure of the Venezuelan ruling party, relayed this information to The Associated Press.

The State of Fuerte Tiuna Before Strikes

Satellite photographs from Dec. 22 provided by Vantor illustrate Fuerte Tiuna's military installations and apparatus before any damage occurred.

Post-Strike Condition of Fuerte Tiuna

Subsequent satellite imagery from Vantor highlights the destruction inflicted on vehicles and facilities at Fuerte Tiuna in Caracas after the attacks on Jan. 3.

Officials in the U.S. informed CBS News that the capture of Maduro was executed by the elite Delta Force of the Army's special operations faction.

According to General Dan Caine, Chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, helicopters approaching Maduro's compound were met with gunfire. Nevertheless, U.S. and FBI personnel successfully gained entry, resulting in Maduro and his spouse surrendering.

At a news briefing, Mr. Trump expressed that the U.S. would oversee a transitional phase while attempting to reinstate Venezuela's oil production capabilities. He noted Maduro's attempt to flee during the apprehension.

"He was trying to reach a secure location," Mr. Trump stated to the media. "It was fortified with steel, but our team acted swiftly enough to prevent his entry."

In addition to striking the main military hub, U.S. operations targeted the primary airbase in Caracas, La Carlota; the El Volcán antenna; and La Guaira Port on the Caribbean coast, as confirmed by David Smolansky, an aide for opposition leader Maria Corina Machado.

Maduro is anticipated to face legal proceedings in the U.S. for drug trafficking and alleged connections to groups classified as terrorist organizations, accusations he has refuted. On Saturday, Attorney General Pam Bondi revealed a new indictment echoing the charges leveled against Maduro in 2020.