EXCLUSIVE: Dozens of Venezuelan Security Personnel Killed in U.S. Military Raid Targeting Maduro’s Inner Circle
A large portion of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro’s personal security detail has been killed during a U.S.-led military raid, according to emerging reports from regional officials and intelligence sources. The operation, which took place on January 3, 2026, has escalated tensions between Caracas and Washington to a dangerous new level and threatens to destabilize the already volatile South American region.
Early casualty estimates, though unconfirmed officially, suggest that up to 80 Venezuelan security personnel were killed in a fierce confrontation with U.S. forces. Venezuelan government sources are describing the incident as a “cold-blooded massacre,” alleging that members of the presidential guard were executed amid an intense firefight. U.S. authorities have so far only confirmed the successful capture of an unspecified high-value target during the raid, while remaining silent on the extent of Venezuelan losses.
The operation is believed to be linked to long-standing U.S. indictments against Maduro and members of his administration for alleged drug trafficking and corruption. For years, Washington has offered substantial rewards for information leading to Maduro’s capture, but direct military action on this scale represents a dramatic and unprecedented escalation.
“The United States has crossed a red line,” declared Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yván Gil in a hastily arranged press conference in Caracas. “This is not an operation; it is an act of war against the sovereignty of Venezuela. We hold the U.S. government directly responsible for these assassinations.”
The U.S. Department of Defense has yet to release a detailed statement. However, a senior Pentagon official, speaking on background, stated that the mission was “a precise counter-narcotics action” authorized at the highest levels. The official emphasized that U.S. forces “came under sustained and heavy fire from hostile units,” implying that the casualties were a result of a defensive engagement.
Regional reactions have been swift and polarized. Allies of Venezuela, including Cuba and Nicaragua, have condemned the raid as a “blatant imperialist aggression.” Meanwhile, neighboring Colombia and Brazil have called for urgent meetings of the Organization of American States and the United Nations Security Council, expressing deep concern over the potential for a wider conflict.
Security analysts warn that the decimation of Maduro’s elite protection unit could significantly destabilize the internal power structure within Venezuela. “This isn’t just a diplomatic incident; it’s a direct blow to the regime’s core security apparatus,” said Dr. Elena Marquez, a Latin American security scholar at Georgetown University. “The immediate questions are about Maduro’s personal safety, potential retaliation, and whether this triggers internal unrest or a forceful Venezuelan response against U.S. interests in the region.”
The U.N. Secretary-General has appealed for maximum restraint from all parties. As the world waits for fuller details, the events of January 3rd, 2026, mark a perilous new chapter in U.S.-Venezuela relations, one that carries the grave risk of spiraling into open hostility.
