Senior Trump administration officials confirmed during a closed-door briefing on Monday, January 5, 2026, that Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were injured while attempting to flee the U.S. Special Forces during Operation Absolute Resolve.
Details of the Incident
- Cause of Injury: Maduro and Flores reportedly hit their heads on a low door frame while rushing to hide behind a heavy steel door inside their Caracas compound as Delta Force operators breached the building.
- Extent of Injuries:
- Cilia Flores: Appeared in a New York court on Monday with bandages on her head. Her attorney stated she sustained “significant injuries,” including a possible rib fracture and severe bruising.
- Nicolás Maduro: Reportedly also sustained a head injury during the attempt to escape into a safe room. In court, he appeared to struggle with sitting and standing.
- The Briefing: The classified update was led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, along with CIA Director John Ratcliffe and Joint Chiefs Chair Gen. Dan Caine.
Context of the Operation
- Capture Date: The operation took place in the early hours of Saturday, January 3, 2026.
- Legal Status: Both were transported to New York and pleaded not guilty to narco-terrorism and drug trafficking charges on January 5.
Casualties: While no U.S. forces were killed, officials confirmed several U.S. troops were injured in a “raging gunfire battle” with Maduro’s security, which included dozens of Cuban military personnel.
