WASHINGTON—On Saturday morning, Jan. 3, many Americans woke up to news that U.S. special forces had captured Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro.
A military buildup in the Caribbean had been underway for months, and many had anticipated some form of U.S. military action, but few expected an operation so ambitious and complex.
The operation was carried out with a high level of secrecy.
Late in the evening on Jan. 2, Trump ordered U.S. special operations forces to launch a helicopter-borne raid on the Venezuelan capital city of Caracas to capture Maduro. The operation was the culmination of months of preparation and weeks of waiting for the perfect window of opportunity, including the weather….