55 Dead in Maduro Capture Raid; New Interim Government Formed

Official casualty figures released on Tuesday, January 6, 2026, show that 55 military personnel died during the United States special forces operation to seize Nicolas Maduro.

The raid, known as Operation Absolute Resolve, took place last Saturday and resulted in the sudden ouster of Maduro. While Caracas has not yet released a final count for civilian losses, the Venezuelan military confirmed that 23 of its service members died during the assault. Cuba also listed 32 of its own military and security personnel among the dead.

Details of the Special Forces Operation

The military strike began with targeted air raids on strategic locations across Caracas. The mission culminated when US special forces used helicopters to storm a secure compound. During the raid, they successfully seized Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.

The Rise of an Interim Government

Shortly after the court proceedings, Delcy Rodriguez, Maduro’s former deputy, was sworn in as the interim president of Venezuela. US President Donald Trump has expressed a willingness to work with her administration under specific conditions. Specifically, he has demanded that US companies be granted access to Venezuela’s vast oil reserves.

• Internal Loyalty: She must navigate pressure from the US while keeping Maduro loyalists in the security forces on her side.
• Security Apparatus: High-profile figures like Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello remain in power, suggesting that the former administration’s structure is still intact.
• Media Concerns: Reports emerged that 16 journalists were briefly detained during the transition, highlighting ongoing concerns regarding press freedom.

Opposition Defiance and the Election Window

Opposition leader Maria Corina Machado has publicly rejected Rodriguez’s authority. In a recent interview, she labeled the interim president as an “architect of persecution.” Machado, who was notably sidelined by Washington during the transition, maintains that she is ready to lead.

“In free and fair elections, we will win by over 90 percent of the votes,” Machado stated. She also promised to transform Venezuela into a regional energy hub and dismantle existing criminal networks.

The 30-Day Countdown Debate

According to the Venezuelan constitution, a formal absence of the president requires new elections within 30 days. However, President Trump has pushed back against this timeline, stating that the country must first be “nursed back to health.”