Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, are handcuffed and escorted by heavily armed federal agents into an armored vehicle to the federal courthouse in Manhattan after landing at a helipad in Manhattan, January 5, 2026, in New York City.
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Seven U.S. service members were injured in Saturday’s U.S. military operation in Venezuela that captured President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, a Pentagon official told MS Now on Wednesday.
Two of the seven are still recovering, and five have recovered from injuries sustained in the surgery, which is called an “absolute solution.”
“The fact that this highly complex and demanding mission was successfully accomplished with few injuries is a testament to the expertise of our joint warfighter,” the official said.
The official said an investigation into casualties on the ground is still ongoing and is being led by U.S. intelligence agencies.
Venezuelan officials previously told MS Now that more than 70 people were killed in the attack.
Mr. Maduro’s capture involved special operations forces from multiple military branches and more than 150 military aircraft.
In a post on Truth Social on Saturday, US President Donald Trump said the military action was carried out in coordination with US law enforcement officials.
Cuba announced on Monday that 32 of its citizens were killed during the operation, adding that these people were carrying out the duties of the Cuban military and Interior Ministry. The statement was posted on Facebook by the Cuban President’s Office.
The US airstrikes followed weeks of military buildup in the region and repeated threats against Maduro by President Donald Trump.
The ousted leader appeared in a New York court on Monday, saying he and his wife had been “kidnapped” by U.S. forces from their home in Caracas and describing himself as a “prisoner of war.” He has pleaded not guilty to drug trafficking charges.
—CNBC’s Lim Hui Jie and MS Now’s Julia Jester contributed to this report.
