By Micah Jonah
January 8, 2026
Seven United States service members were injured during a weekend military operation in Venezuela that led to the capture of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, Pentagon officials say.
Five of the injured troops have already returned to duty, while two remain in recovery, the officials said. All injuries were classified as non‑fatal, and the service members are reported to be receiving medical care and making progress towards recovery.
The operation, which began early Saturday in Caracas, involved widespread airstrikes on air defence systems and communications infrastructure, followed by a special operations raid in the Venezuelan capital. It formed part of a high‑risk mission to seize Maduro and Flores, who were subsequently brought to the United States to face charges.
U.S. officials hailed the mission’s execution and noted the relatively low number of injuries among the U.S. force, given the complexity of the assault in an urban environment.
The broader operation has resulted in significant conflict and casualties among Venezuelan and allied forces, contributing to heightened regional tensions.
