US capture of Maduro followed months of planning

US forces captured Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro and his wife after an operation officials say lasted about two and a half hours following months of surveillance and planning; Maduro and his wife were removed from Venezuela and were reported aboard a US ship. Undetermined at this time.

US forces captured Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro and his wife in an overnight operation that officials said lasted about two and a half hours. US officials reported months of surveillance and intelligence work in the lead-up to the mission. After the capture, Maduro and his wife were removed from Venezuelan territory and were reported aboard a US naval vessel, and authorities reported casualties; the wider political consequences remain unclear. Key reported facts: - Officials said the operation followed months of intelligence gathering and surveillance. - The capture was reported to have taken roughly two and a half hours from the first assault to departure. - Maduro and his wife were taken out of the country and were initially reported aboard a US naval ship. - Authorities reported casualties during the operation; no independently confirmed casualty totals were provided in the report. - US officials reported relying on intelligence sources, including technical surveillance and reported human sources, to track Maduro's movements. Summary: The operation removed Venezuela's president and his wife from the country and has left the nation's political future uncertain. Undetermined at this time.