Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Representative Cilia Flores, suffered injuries while trying to escape the US military operation in Caracas, US government officials told lawmakers. The information was disclosed by sources cited by CNN during a session of more than two hours in which the capture and the events that occurred during the operation were detailed.
According to reports, the two attempted to take shelter behind a low steel door inside their compound, but the low frame caused them to hit their heads during the escape. After being detained by members of the Delta Force, they received first aid before being transferred.
During the court appearance in New York, both Maduro and Flores showed visible injuries; His lawyer indicated that Flores could have fractures or severe bruises to his ribs and requested a complete medical evaluation. Flores was observed wearing bandages on her head and had difficulty standing upright at times, while Maduro showed problems sitting and standing up.
The military operation involved the participation of nearly 200 US troops on the ground and there was an intense confrontation with Cuban rapid reaction forces that were stationed near the presidential complex. Some American soldiers were injured by gunshots and shrapnel, although their injuries were not life-threatening.
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According to reports from the Cuban government, 32 of its military and police officers died during the action, while US officials indicated that the real number could be higher. Advisor Stephen Miller described the operation as “an intense battle of gunfire,” and clarified that most of the casualties affected the Cuban guard.
During the meeting with legislators, US officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine, Secretary of Justice Pam Bondi and CIA Director John Ratcliffe, explained that Maduro’s capture did not constitute a regime change operation. The Venezuelan government remains largely intact, under the interim presidency of then-Vice President Delcy Rodríguez.
Rubio, considered the main point of contact with Rodríguez, has maintained communication with her and her brother Jorge Rodríguez, president of the National Assembly, with the aim of promoting behavioral changes within the regime. US authorities stressed that, although there is no formal agreement, they expect Rodríguez to facilitate cooperation with the United States in strategic areas, such as the reconstruction of the country’s oil infrastructure and the operation of US companies in Venezuela.
The operation has also generated diverse responses outside the United States: several countries have condemned the intervention as a violation of sovereignty, while other voices have raised the need to move towards a political solution in Venezuela. In Caracas, the political transition under Delcy Rodríguez continues amid intense debate and international pressure over the country’s institutional future.