A Newly Released Memo Sheds Light on the Timing of US Raid Plans in Venezuela

The United States planned to apprehend former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro during a period when the Venezuelan military was likely to be less vigilant due to holiday leave, according to a newly disclosed memorandum.

On December 23, a memorandum from the Department of Justice's Office of Legal Counsel detailed the efforts by the US to carry out an audacious night raid to detain Maduro at his secure location and extradite him to New York for trial. Maduro faces accusations related to drug trafficking and weapon offenses, to which he has entered not guilty pleas.

Originally, the raid was set to initiate on December 30 but was delayed until January 2 due to unfavorable weather conditions, as stated by President Donald Trump on January 3. The operation subsequently extended into the following day.

In a memo by US Assistant Attorney General T. Elliot Gaiser, the anticipated time duration for operations within Venezuela was kept confidential. The memo indicated the operation was scheduled at 1 a.m. when many Venezuelan troops were on holiday leave, aiming to minimize casualties.

The exact number of absent soldiers during the January raid remains uncertain. Post-operation reports from Venezuela and Cuba confirmed significant security personnel losses on both sides following the culmination of what was termed Operation Absolute Resolve.

The DOJ document, which drew on strategic information from the Pentagon, illustrated the challenge of Venezuelan air defenses. It aimed to contextualize the operation under law enforcement rather than military aggression.

Expectations included resistance from numerous anti-aircraft installations en route to Fuerte Tiuna, Caracas, where indeed Maduro and his wife were located.

Plans included US aircraft missions to incapacitate air defense systems, thus facilitating a safe passage for strike forces to navigate toward the target. Additionally, the Pentagon had strategized targeting the local power infrastructure, aligning with Trump's remarks about expertise used to create a blackout.

The operation could have also incorporated cyber measures or electronic warfare. As the memo articulated, conventional military actions were to be prefaced by non-combative tactics.

Although the memo was released days prior to the raid, it remains unconfirmed how the plans evolved leading up to the actual execution.

According to Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the January 3 rundown post-raid cited over 150 US aircraft involvement, encompassing stealth, electronic warfare, and reconnaissance airplanes, among others.

These aircraft aimed to deactivate Venezuela's air defenses, creating a clear path for low-flying helicopters tasked with infiltrating Maduro's stronghold and seizing him and his spouse. This aligned with the strategic outline noted in the memo.

There were no reported losses of US aircraft during the operation. Despite one helicopter sustaining a hit, it continued operationally. Seven American servicemen sustained injuries.

The significant danger to the mission was emphasized in the memo, stating its success hinged on the element of surprise. Post-raid, Caine reinforced that the US successfully maintained the unexpected nature of their tactics.