Retired Delta Force Veteran Highlights Key Challenge in Daring Maduro Capture Operation
A retired Delta Force operator has shed light on the most formidable obstacle faced during the U.S. military’s high-stakes raid to capture Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, emphasizing that the real difficulty lay not in confronting the target but in paving the way for ground forces to reach him.
John McPhee, a former sergeant major in the elite U.S. Army special operations unit known as Delta Force, appeared on Fox News’ “Fox & Friends Weekend” on January 4, 2026, just one day after the successful execution of Operation Absolute Resolve. The mission, carried out on January 3, resulted in Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, being apprehended in a fortified compound in Caracas and swiftly extracted from the country.
McPhee pinpointed neutralizing Venezuela’s air defenses as the operation’s greatest challenge. “I’d say the most difficult task is knocking out all the air defenses and getting the guys in on the ground,” he explained. “Once the guys are on the ground, they can handle themselves. However, you gotta get to the fight if you’re gonna have a fight.”
This assessment aligns with details emerging from the operation, which involved coordinated airstrikes, cyber disruptions, and precision raids to disable radar systems, anti-aircraft batteries, and power grids in the capital. These preparatory actions created a safe corridor for Delta Force helicopters to insert operators into Maduro’s heavily guarded residence. Reports indicate that U.S. forces employed over 150 aircraft, including fighters, bombers, and rotary-wing assets, to suppress defenses and ensure the raid’s success.
McPhee praised the meticulous planning that underpinned the mission, noting that extensive rehearsals—including building a replica of Maduro’s compound—and months of intelligence gathering eliminated potential pitfalls. “All those tiny details were gone over, polished out, so there were no tiny details that could stop anything that these guys did,” he said. He described the current Delta Force as “more polished now than ever,” highlighting how the unit’s refinement allowed America to execute ground operations with unprecedented effectiveness.
The raid, supported by CIA intelligence and law enforcement elements, caught Maduro by surprise as he slept. President Donald Trump, who personally monitored the operation, described the compound as a “fortress-like house” where Maduro was “bum rushed so fast.” No U.S. fatalities were reported, though Venezuelan officials claimed casualties among security forces and civilians.
McPhee’s insights underscore the complexity of modern special operations, where enabling safe access often proves more daunting than the close-quarters engagement itself. As Maduro faces narco-terrorism charges in New York, the retired veteran’s comments serve as a testament to the skill and preparation that made Operation Absolute Resolve a tactical triumph.
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