In a dramatic turn of events, former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, found themselves battered and bruised after a daring U.S. military operation in Caracas.

This high-stakes mission, executed by Delta Force operators, culminated in the apprehension of Maduro and Flores after a fierce clash with Cuban forces, leaving injuries on both sides and sparking intense debate over the future of U.S.-Venezuela ties under Maduro's deputy, Delcy Rodriguez.

Nearly 200 U.S. personnel were deployed as part of the mission, and several sustained non-life-threatening injuries from bullets and shrapnel.

Operation Details: A Risky Capture in Caracas

The mission unfolded with Maduro and Flores attempting a desperate escape inside their compound, only to collide with a low steel door frame, resulting in visible head injuries.

Delta Force operators swiftly apprehended the couple, providing first aid before extracting them from the chaotic scene of a large firefight with a Cuban quick-reaction force stationed nearby.

While the U.S. troops are expected to recover fully, the Cuban government reported a staggering 32 of its military and police officers killed in the clash—a grim toll that underscores the operation's intensity.

Courtroom Drama and Visible Injuries

Hours after their capture, Maduro and Flores appeared in court, their injuries on full display as reporters noted Flores swaying and dipping her head, while Maduro struggled with basic movements like sitting and standing.

Courtroom sketches revealed bandages on Flores’s head, though administration officials described her injury as minor during a classified briefing to lawmakers that lasted over two hours.

“Additionally, there's a belief that she may have a fracture or severe bruising on her ribs,” said Flores’s attorney, requesting an X-ray and full evaluation—a plea that hints at deeper health concerns the public deserves to know about.

Heavy Casualties and Political Fallout

Let’s not sugarcoat it: the operation was a bloodbath for the Cuban forces, with Stephen Miller, President Donald Trump’s deputy chief of staff for policy, telling CNN’s Jake Tapper, “The overwhelming share of casualties and fatalities that were inflicted were against the Cuban guard that had exerted control over the people of Venezuela.”

While Miller’s statement highlights the Cuban losses, it sidesteps a full accounting of Venezuelan casualties—a transparency gap that conservatives should demand be filled, no exceptions.

The operation wasn’t framed as regime change, with officials noting that Venezuela’s government remains intact under Delcy Rodriguez, Maduro’s deputy, whom the administration views as a more pragmatic figure to engage with.

Future Ties: A Pragmatic Approach?

Behind closed doors, Secretary of State Marco Rubio has been the key liaison with Rodriguez, a relationship described as strong, with ongoing talks aimed at influencing regime behavior rather than ousting Maduro.

With Rodriguez also serving as Venezuela’s oil minister, there’s an expectation she’ll cooperate on rebuilding the nation’s oil infrastructure and opening doors for American companies—potentially a win for U.S. economic interests if the administration’s pressure, backed by warships in the Caribbean, holds firm.

Yet, while the CIA’s classified analysis shapes this policy, and opposition leader Maria Corina Machado remains sidelined from controlling security forces, conservatives must stay vigilant to ensure this isn’t just another diplomatic dance with no accountability for past wrongs.