The U.S. military is preparing to destroy three airports if Venezuelan Air Force fighter jets try to scramble and intercept troops sent to capture Venezuelan dictator Maduro earlier this month. Planners also fear there could be as many as 75 air defense positions between U.S. forces and their targets. These and other new operational details are contained in a heavily redacted legal memo released by the U.S. Department of Justice earlier this week.
The memorandum was written by Assistant Attorney General T. Elliot Gaiser, Office of Legal Counsel, Department of Justice, and is dated December 23, 2025. Its main purpose was to address the legality of the mission, nicknamed “Operation Absolute Resolve,” which was ultimately carried out on the night of January 2-3. President Donald Trump’s administration has argued that the capture of Maduro and his wife was a military-backed law enforcement operation and, by extension, exempt from various U.S. and international laws governing the use of U.S. troops and armed conflict more broadly. The legal basis remains a controversial topic, causing much debate.
Nicolás Maduro (second from left) and his wife (far right) are escorted by Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agents on January 5, 2026, in New York City. XNY/Star Max/GC Picture from Getty Images
It’s worth noting that the action plan details contained in the memo are as of Dec. 22, according to Gaither. The Trump administration had reportedly planned to launch the operation on Christmas Day, but it was postponed due to unrelated attacks targeting ISIS terrorists in Nigeria. The memo specifically states that Maduro is considered the sole target of the operation. Unredacted sections indicate that his wife – described in a footnote as “‘more aggressive and combative’ than her husband” – was expected to be with him but was not captured. It is unknown what other changes are planned between December 22 and January 3.
“The Department of the Army has identified three airfields that could be destroyed if fighter jets were massing there to intercept assault forces,” the memo said. “Otherwise the airfields would not be attacked because they have dual military and civilian uses.”
There is no clear indication that Venezuela’s Russian-made Su-30MK2V Flankers or U.S.-made F-16 fighter jets have actually attempted to respond to the U.S. action. The General Francisco de Miranda Air Base in Caracas (also known as La Carlotta in Caracas) was targeted, as was Igorot Airport on the east coast of the capital, but more likely because of the presence of air defense assets on the ground. None of the facilities are understood to house fighter jets.
Analysis of satellite imagery of Venezuela’s Igolot airport (January 3, 2026 14:54 local time / 18:54 GMT) indicates at least two, and possibly three, locations targeted by US air strikes.
Image source: @planet pic.twitter.com/SiqRtGeglB
— Joseph Dempsey (@JosephHDempsey) January 4, 2026
“The Army Department informed Maduro that he spent a considerable amount of time in Fort Tina [Fuerte Tiuna]a fortification on the southern tip of Caracas, [redacted]”, the memo also explained. “It is expected that this approach of the US military will face serious resistance. “
“The intelligence community has indicated that Maduro may not currently be capable of such ‘significant armed resistance,’ despite his public overtures,” Geiser said in the memo, adding that “questions have been raised about whether the Venezuelan military is not entirely loyal as well.”
However, “Throughout our discussions, there was never any suggestion that the forces inside Fort Tiner would do anything other than fight,” and “there is no doubt that if Fort Tiner were located in the United States rather than Venezuela, there would be a sufficient threat of armed resistance,” he added.
On top of that, “there may be as many as 75 anti-aircraft batteries along the approach to Fort Tiner,” the assistant attorney general wrote.
Satellite image showing Fuerte Tiuna and surrounding areas after Operation Absolute Resolve on January 3, 2026. Satellite image © 2026 Vantor
“Furthermore, we have been verbally informed that an estimated [redacted],” the memo continued. “These weapons, [redacted] Ability to shoot down helicopters carrying assault and recovery troops. “
Long before Operation Absolute Resolve was launched, TWZ An in-depth look at Venezuela’s relatively limited air defense capabilities and the real threats they may still pose, including to helicopter assault forces. In particular, prior to the mission, the Venezuelan military claimed to have approximately 5,000 Russian-made Igla-S (SA-24 Grinch) shoulder-fired heat-seeking surface-to-air missiles, also known as man-portable air defense systems (MANPADS). In general, man-portable air defense systems pose a significant danger to low-altitude and slow-flying helicopters, compounded by their ability to appear suddenly with little advance warning. The location of man-portable air defense systems is also difficult to determine and then plan for before operating. We have previously highlighted the potential for similar complications to arise from the large road-mobile surface-to-air missile systems in Venezuela’s arsenal.
“As of December 22, 2025, the proposed strike force will include approximately [redacted] within Venezuela; [and] one [redacted] Assault troops carried by helicopter [redacted]”, according to the memo. “Before the assault force reached Fort Tina, approx. [redacted] Aircraft include [redacted] Will act as escort and clear deployed anti-aircraft batteries as necessary. “
Of note is the apparent reference to covert troops deployed in advance. It is now widely reported that the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) infiltrated operatives weeks before the mission, but their role has been largely defined as monitoring Maduro’s movements and establishing what he calls his “way of life,” as well as gathering other intelligence. Justice Department personnel, including FBI agents, were also involved in the operation but were not known to have been in the country beforehand.
Otherwise, the details here are consistent with what’s already emerging from the final Force Plan for Operation Absolute Resolve, which includes a 200-man special operations force led by the U.S. Army’s Delta Force. MH-60 Black Hawks and MH-47 Chinook helicopters from the U.S. Army’s 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (commonly known as the “Night Stalkers”) are responsible for transporting the troops to and from Tiuna Island. Some MH-60s are configured as armed helicopters, also known as direct action armor-piercing aircraft (DAP), providing close air support to main forces.
Video captured by helicopters over Venezuela shows what appear to be CH-47 Chinooks and MH-60 Black Hawks. According to available images, the shape is generally consistent with the version flown by Special Operations Forces. Rocket attacks may also indicate the presence of other types. pic.twitter.com/YxipAqSpAy
— Christopher Burgers (@MilAvHistory) January 3, 2026
A total of approximately 150 fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft, manned and unmanned, participated in the operation. In addition to the NightStalkers, they include F-22, F-35 and F/A-18E/F fighter jets, B-1 bombers, EA-18G and EC-130H electronic warfare aircraft, E-2 airborne early warning and control aircraft and RQ-170 Sentinel stealth drones. offshore naval warships, including wasp USS-class amphibious assault ship Iwo Jima and U.S. supercarriers Gerald R. Ford also played a key role.
A route map of the former Roosevelt Roads Naval Base in Puerto Rico after Operation Absolute Resolve, showing only a fraction of the aircraft involved in the operation. United States Air Force
Post-operation images from Venezuela show the U.S. military launching AGM-88 series anti-radiation missiles and AGM-154C Joint Standoff Weapon (JSOW) precision-guided glide bombs against Venezuelan air defense systems, specifically the Russian-made Buk-M2E surface-to-air missile system. Venezuela’s air defense network ultimately played a minimal role in the response to Operation Absolute Resolve, and subsequent reports raised questions about how well those assets were functioning at the time.
Bellingcat has discovered that remnants of the weapon that struck an apartment building in Catia Lamar, Venezuela, killing a civilian during the U.S. operation, were U.S. AGM-88 series missiles. The apartment is about 500m away from the military area where the hit Buk-2ME air defense system was located. pic.twitter.com/mYxbYumdHP
— Trevor Bauer (@Easybakeovensz) January 7, 2026
Overall, “the expected duration of operations in Venezuela is [redated] “To minimize casualties, the attack will be carried out at 10 a.m. local time, when the largest number of Venezuelan troops will be available that day,” the Justice Department memo said. [personnel] Vacations will be vacations. “
The last part here may be a reference to the initially reported plans to launch Operation Inherent Resolve on or around Christmas Day. Finally, it does come to the weekend after New Year’s, when many people may still be on vacation.
“Additionally, kinetic operations will be preceded by non-kinetic operations,” the memo also states. “Power to Fort Tiner will be out for an extended period because [redacted] The War Department’s targets would be local electrical substations. “
There have been numerous reports of cyberattacks helping to “turn out the lights” in Venezuela during missions. In his post-operation press conference on January 3, General Kane also mentioned “the different effects provided by SPACECOM. [U.S. Space Command]cyber command [U.S. Cyber Command]and other members across agencies [sic] Electronic warfare attacks by the EA-18G and EC-130H will also fall into the “non-kinetic operations” category. Since Maduro’s arrest, there has been speculation and rumors that other secretive non-kinetic capabilities may also play a role, but there is currently no conclusive evidence to support this.
As Gen. Dan Kaine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said at a recent White House press briefing on Operation Resolve, it was “a powerful demonstration of America’s joint force.” Listen to his full speech here: https://t.co/PWdrkZuwJK pic.twitter.com/cN59N9JLM6
— U.S. Space Command (@US_SpaceCom) January 5, 2026
The section on the action plan in the Justice Department memo ends with the statement that “the mission faces substantial risks” and “success will depend on the unexpected,” at least according to the unedited version. It also noted that “the level of risk will depend in part on Maduro’s exact location within the bastion at the time of the attack.”
All in all, the ultimate execution of Operation Asbolt Resolve was highly successful from a tactical perspective. U.S. forces are estimated to have killed between 75 and 100 people, many of them Maduro’s jailers. Cuban authorities admitted that 32 officers were killed in action. At least seven U.S. service members were injured in the line of duty, including the pilot of a Nightclaw MH-47 aircraft who suffered severe damage but still managed to stay airborne.
Unredacted details from the Justice Department memo underscore that the operation was successful despite considerable potential risks from air defense systems and other threats. More details about these dangers and how to overcome them are still likely to emerge.
Contact the author: joe@twz.com
