US strikes Venezuela: President Maduro captured by US Delta Force; special unit's role in al-Baghdadi killing

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro was captured early Saturday morning by elite US special forces, according to US officials.

A US official said Maduro was taken into custody by members of Delta Force, the US military’s top special mission unit, according to CBS News. This comes as President Donald Trump confirmed that US carried out "large scale strike against Venezuela and its leader." Both Maduro and his wife have been captured and flown out of the country, according to Trump.

Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez said the whereabouts of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife were unknown, adding that authorities were demanding "proof of life", as reported by Associated Press.


Also read: Who is Nicolas Maduro? Venezuelan president ‘captured’ after American strikes

Delta Force, an elite unit under the US Army, was previously involved in the 2019 mission that killed former Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. At the time, Trump had said that Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the founder and leader of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), was killed in a “daring and dangerous” raid carried out by US commandos, bringing an end to a years-long manhunt for the world’s most wanted terrorist.

The president had also said at the time that US operators confirmed al-Baghdadi’s identity through DNA testing conducted at the scene, noting that his body was found under rubble and was badly mutilated. Trump had described the Islamic State leader and his associates in harsh terms, saying they “had no idea what they were getting into,” adding that al-Baghdadi “died like a dog” and “like a coward,” and that the operation had made the world “a much safer place.”

Delta Force also played a key role in the US-led effort to capture former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein during the 2003 invasion of Iraq. Operators from the elite 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment–Delta were part of Task Force 121, a joint special operations unit tasked with hunting high-value targets from Saddam’s inner circle as coalition forces moved across the country, as per Fox News report.

On December 13, 2003, Delta Force operators took part in Operation Red Dawn, which led to Saddam’s capture near Ad-Dawr, close to his hometown of Tikrit. Acting on intelligence obtained from detained aides, the team located Saddam hiding in an underground “spider hole,” where he surrendered.

Also read: Trump says Venezuela leader 'flown out of country'; what he said

Attack on Venezuela capital

At least seven loud explosions were heard across Venezuela’s capital, Caracas, early Saturday, triggering air sirens and the sound of low-flying aircraft. Several neighborhoods reported panic on the streets, along with power outages after the blasts.

According to AFP, the explosions were heard around 2.00 am local time (0600 GMT), with the first blast recorded shortly before 1.50 am.