Mock House, CIA Source, Special Forces: The US Operation To Capture Maduro

At 4:21 on Saturday morning, US President Donald Trump sent a message on his Truth Social platform: the United States had carried out a daring mission to capture Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife.

The action came as a surprise, but according to sources familiar with the matter, planning for one of the most complex US operations in recent memory had been in the works for some time and included detailed rehearsals.

Elite US troops, including the Army's Delta Force, created an exact replica of Maduro's safe house and practiced how they would enter the strongly fortified residence.

The CIA had a small team on the ground starting in August who were able to provide insight into Maduro's pattern of life that made grabbing him seamless, according to one source familiar with the matter.

Two other sources told Reuters the intelligence agency also had an asset close to Maduro who would monitor his movements and was poised to pinpoint his exact location as the operation unfolded.

With the pieces in place, Trump approved the operation four days ago, but military and intelligence planners suggested he wait for better weather and less cloud cover.

In the early hours of Saturday, the mission to capture Maduro started. Trump, surrounded by his advisers at his Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Florida, watched a live stream of the operation.

How the hours-long operation unfolded is based on interviews with four sources familiar with the matter and details Trump himself has revealed.

"I've done some pretty good ones, but I've never seen anything like this," Trump said on Fox News just hours after the mission was completed.

'MASSIVE' OPERATION

The Pentagon has overseen a massive military buildup of forces in the Caribbean, sending an aircraft carrier, 11 warships and more than a dozen F-35 aircraft. In total, more than 15,000 troops have poured into the region for what US officials have long described as anti-drug operations.

According to one of the sources, Trump senior aide Stephen Miller, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and CIA Director John Ratcliffe formed a core team working on the issue for months with regular - sometimes daily - meetings and phone calls. They often also met with the president.

Late on Friday night and into early Saturday, Trump and his advisers huddled as a number of US aircraft took off and carried out strikes against targets inside and close to Caracas, including air defence systems, according to a US military official.

Trump told Fox News Channel's "Fox & Friends" the number of US aircraft involved was "massive".

"We had a fighter jet for every possible situation," Trump said.

Sources have told Reuters that in addition to fighter jets, the Pentagon had also quietly moved into the region refuelling air tankers, drones and aircraft specialising in electronic jamming.

US officials told Reuters that the airstrikes hit military targets. Images taken by Reuters at the La Carlota air base in Caracas showed charred military vehicles from a Venezuelan anti-aircraft unit.

With the strikes taking place, US Special Forces made their way into Caracas heavily armed, including with a blow torch in case they had to cut through steel doors at Maduro's location. Officials did not say how the troops entered the city, but video posted on social media by residents showed a convoy of helicopters flying over Caracas at a low altitude.

Once they reached Maduro's safe house the troops, along with FBI agents, made their way into the residence, which Trump described as a "very highly guarded... fortress."

"They just broke in, and they broke into places that were not really able to be broke into, you know, steel doors that were put there for just this reason," Trump said. "They got taken out in a matter of seconds."

MADURO IN CUSTODY

It is unclear how US forces were able to capture Maduro and his wife once they entered the house, but Trump said the Venezuelan leader had unsuccessfully tried to get to a safe room.

"He was trying to get into it, but he got bum rushed so fast that he didn't get into that," Trump said.

Some US forces were hit, Trump said, but none were killed.

As the operation unfolded, Rubio started to inform lawmakers that it was underway. The notifications only began after the operation started and not before, as is customary for key lawmakers who play an oversight role, officials told Reuters.

Little is yet known about Maduro's extraction from Caracas. Trump said that one helicopter was hit "pretty hard" but was able to make it back.

The Venezuelan leader was flown to the USS Iwo Jima, an amphibious assault ship, and will be transferred to New York to stand trial.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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"Act Of Armed Aggression": Russia Condemns US Attack On Venezuela

Russia condemned the US military action in Venezuela on Saturday and demanded "immediate" clarification about what happened to Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro, who US President Donald Trump said was captured by US forces.

Venezuela is Russia's most important ally in South America, though the Kremlin has stopped short of offering assistance to Caracas in the event of a conflict with the US.

Early Saturday, "the United States committed an act of armed aggression against Venezuela. This is deeply concerning and condemnable," the Russian foreign ministry said in a statement.

"The pretexts used to justify such actions are untenable. Ideological hostility has triumphed over businesslike pragmatism," it added.

In a later statement, the ministry said it was "extremely alarmed by reports that Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife were forcibly removed from the country as a result of today's US aggression".

"We call for an immediate clarification of the situation," it added.

Russia reaffirmed its support for Maduro last month and was one of only several countries to congratulate the embattled Venezuelan leader following his disputed re-election in 2024.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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What Caused Deadly Fire At Swiss Bar That Killed 40 On New Year's Eve

Swiss investigators said Friday that they believe sparkling flares atop Champagne bottles ignited the fatal fire at a ski resort when they came too close to a crowded bar's ceiling.

Forty people were killed, and another 119 were injured in the blaze as it ripped through the busy Le Constellation bar at the ski resort of Crans-Montana while revellers were celebrating New Year's Eve, authorities said.

Among the crowd was Axel Clavier, a 16-year-old from Paris, who said he felt as if he was suffocating inside the Swiss Alpine bar where moments before he had been ringing in the new year with friends and dozens of other people.

The teenager escaped the inferno, which broke out early Thursday, by forcing a window open with a table. But about 40 other partygoers died, including one of Clavier's friends, falling victim to one of the worst tragedies in Switzerland's history.

Many of the wounded were in their teens to mid-20s, police said.

Clavier told The Associated Press that two or three of his friends remained missing hours after the disaster.

Late Thursday, mourners left candles and flowers in an impromptu memorial near the bar. Hundreds of others prayed for the victims at the nearby Church of Montana-Station.

Pope Leo sent a telegram on Friday to the bishop of Sion to express condolences and pray that "the Lord will welcome the deceased into His abode of peace and light, and will sustain the courage of those who suffer in their hearts or in their bodies."

On Instagram, an account filled with photos of people who remained unaccounted for, with their friends and relatives begging for tips about the whereabouts of the missing.

"We have numerous accounts of heroic actions, one could say, of very strong solidarity in the moment," Valais regional government head Mathias Reynard told RTS radio Friday. He lauded the work of emergency officials on the day after the fire but added "in the first minutes it was citizens - and in large part young people - who saved lives with their courage."

Clavier, the Parisian teenager, said he didn't see the fire start, but did see waitresses arrive with Champagne bottles with burning sparklers.

Two women told French broadcaster BFMTV they were inside when they saw a male bartender lifting a female bartender on his shoulders as she held a lit candle in a bottle. The flames spread, collapsing the wooden ceiling, they told the broadcaster.

One of the women described a crowd surge as people frantically tried to escape from a basement nightclub up a flight of stairs and through a narrow door.

Another witness speaking to BFMTV described people smashing windows to escape the blaze, some gravely injured, and panicked parents rushing to the scene in cars to see whether their children were trapped inside.

Gianni Campolo, a Swiss 19-year-old who was in Crans-Montana on vacation, rushed to the bar to help first responders after receiving a call from a friend who escaped the inferno. He described a scene of people trapped on the ground, severely injured and burned.

"I have seen horror and I don't know what else would be worse than this," Campolo told TF1.

The severity of the burns has made it very difficult to identify bodies, bringing fresh agony for families who now must hand over DNA samples to authorities. In some cases, wallets and any ID documents inside turned to ash in the flames.

Emanuele Galeppini, a promising 17-year-old Italian golfer who competed internationally, is officially listed as one of Italy's missing nationals. His uncle Sebastiano Galeppini told Italian news agency ANSA that their family is awaiting the DNA checks, though the Italian Golf Federation on its website announced that he had died.

Italy's Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said 13 Italian citizens were injured and six remained missing by midday Friday. Galeppini's name was on the missing persons list.

In a region busy with tourists skiing on the slopes, the authorities have called on the local population to show caution in the coming days to avoid accidents that could further strain the area's already overwhelmed medical resources.

With high-altitude ski runs rising around 3,000 meters (nearly 9,850 feet) in the heart of the Valais region's snowy peaks and pine forests, Crans-Montana is one of the top venues on the World Cup circuit. The resort will host the best men's and women's downhill racers, including Lindsey Vonn, for their final events before the Milan-Cortina Olympics in February. The town's Crans-sur-Sierre golf club stages the European Masters each August on a picturesque course.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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In Pune, Sena 'Candidate' Tears, Swallows Party Colleague's Nomination Form

The municipal elections in Maharashtra, already a hot topic across the state, has got juicier, with allegations that a contest in Pune got duplicate candidates from Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena and one of them, upset at the news, tore up and ate the AB form of his rival in public. 

Machhindra Davale and Uddhav Kamble were given AB forms by the Shiv Sena from Ward No. 36A in the Dhankawadi-Sahakarnagar area of Pune. 

Uddhav Kamble had allegedly found out when he went to file his papers at the Election Commission. The proof in hand, he allegedly tore it and promptly swallowed the balled up pieces in full view of the Election Commission officials.

A police case has been filed and his in-house rival said he has been asked to file duplicate papers. Sources said the police have taken this act very seriously. 

The police said that the complaint from the Election Commission was that Kamble had taken Davale's form during scrutiny, tore it up and put it in his mouth and rushed towards the washroom. "We are investigating the matter," said Rahul Khilare, a senior officer of the Bharati Vidyapeeth police station.

Kamble, though, denied that he had eaten the form. He said he had heard reports that there was a second candidate from the party. "I don't know who this "Davale" person is. He has no connection to our party and isn't a party official. I've never even met him," he said.

When he tried to verify it with senior party officials, he was assured that no other party worker had been given the form.

He had received similar replies from the party's district heads and even the Election Commission officials. 

But he searched by himself and "when I found the other form, out of anger and frustration, I tore it up... I was deeply upset that the election commission, a government body, would lie to an official candidate from a national party like the Shiv Sena," he said. 

Asked where the torn form is and that the election officials have filed a complaint saying he ate it in front of them, he said: "In the middle of the chaos, I don't know where the pieces went. But if they're claiming I ate it, I'm here at the police station to challenge that... I should undergo a medical examination. If the form is found in my stomach, then they can proceed with legal action. But if it's not, they should withdraw the false complaint".

Davale said he was not there to witness the moment. He said he had heard that his form was torn up and eaten but did not hold any grudges, since "he (Kamble) is from our party and a good friend of mine, I don't have any ill will toward him".

Declaring himself the official candidate of the Sena, he said now that two candidates have surfaced, the party will take a final call. 
Sena, though, is yet to say who is the "real" candidate.

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Sriram Raghavan Reveals Why Dhurandhar Is Not The Kind Of Film He Would Make

Even as Aditya Dhar's Dhurandhar continues its triumphant box-office run, Sriram Raghavan has made it clear that the blockbuster spy thriller sits firmly outside his own creative comfort zone. 

Speaking to The Hindu ahead of the release of his next film, Ikkis, Raghavan explained why the Ranveer Singh-starrer, despite being well-crafted, represents a cinematic language he would not personally adopt.

Why Dhurandhar's Success Does Not Define His Filmmaking Choices

Addressing comparisons between Dhurandhar and the kind of spy films he and his brother Shridhar Raghavan have made in the past, Sriram stressed that it is less about quality and more about worldview.

"It is a well-made film with terrific performances, but it is not our kind of film. We must understand that we are living in different times. The earlier James Bond films starring Sean Connery and Roger Moore were fun movies. Later on, Bond films started to get serious. Dhurandhar is one movie. It is doing spectacularly well, and it should. But this is not the only format. If I start following it, it will be the silliest thing to do," he said.

Sriram Raghavan Praises Aditya Dhar

While distancing himself from Aditya Dhar's stylistic choices, Raghavan was careful to underline his admiration for the filmmaker. The two directors share a significant career milestone, having both won National Awards in the same year - Dhar for Uri: The Surgical Strike and Raghavan for Andhadhun.

Reflecting on that moment, Raghavan said, "Aditya and I shared the National Award stage when he made Uri, and I had Andhadhun. He has a different kind of sensibility and craft, and I love watching his films, but it is not something I would make."

That philosophy also shapes his upcoming project Ikkis, a biographical war drama based on the life of Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal, India's youngest Param Vir Chakra awardee. In the movie, Agastya Nanda steps into the role of the 21-year-old war hero and Dharmendra portrays his father.

ALSO READ: Dhurandhar Actor Naseem Mughal Was "Uncomfortable" About Viral Assault Scene, Reveals Ranveer Singh's Reaction

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Helped Boost Ties: PM In Letter To Tarique Rahman After Khaleda Zia's Death

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his condolence letter to Tarique Rahman - the son of Bangladesh's former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia and the acting chairman leader of Bangladesh Nationalist Party - recalled his association with her and expressed hope that the people of Bangladesh, who have shown "remarkable strength and dignity throughout their history... will continue to be guided by their shared values, democratic traditions, and a deep sense of national unity".

PM Modi's letter was delivered today by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, who represented India at the funeral of Khaleda Zia.

On arrival in Dhaka, met with Mr Tarique Rahman @trahmanbnp, Acting Chairman of BNP and son of former PM of Bangladesh Begum Khaleda Zia.

Handed over to him a personal letter from Prime Minister @narendramodi.

Conveyed deepest condolences on behalf of the Government and… pic.twitter.com/xXNwJsRTmZ

— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) December 31, 2025

Expressing his condolences in the letter, PM Modi had said, "I warmly recall my meeting and discussions with Begum Sahiba in Dhaka in June 2015".

"She was a leader of rare resolve and conviction and had the distinction of being the first woman Prime Minister of Bangladesh. She made many important contributions to the development of Bangladesh, as well as to the strengthening of India-Bangladesh relations," he wrote.

"While her passing leaves an irreplaceable void, her vision and legacy will endure," PM Modi added. "I am confident that her ideals will be carried forward under your able leadership of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party and will continue to serve as a guiding light to ensure a new beginning and the enrichment of the deep and historic partnership between India and Bangladesh," he wrote.

Zia, the three-time Prime Minister of Bangladesh who headed the BNP, died on Tuesday after a long illness. Her funaral today was attended by thousands, including dignitaries from various nations. She was laid to rest with full State honours this afternoon beside her husband, the country's former President Ziaur Rahman, at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar in Dhaka.

Rahman, a front-runner for the prime minister post in the election due on February 12, is Khaleda Zia's eldest son.

During his meeting with Rahman, Jaishankar acknowledged Zia's contribution to democracy. He also expressed optimism about closer India-Bangladesh ties -- which have been frayed since the government led by Mohammad Yunus came to power -- after the elections due in February. Dhaka's growing closeness with Pakistan and its all-weather ally China lately has been a situation that is being closely watched by India.

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Techie Reveals How Moving From Bengaluru To Hyderabad Changed Her Life

Shreya Prasad, a techie who works at Uber, has recently shared her experience of moving to Hyderabad. In her post on LinkedIn, she said that leaving Bengaluru was one of the best decisions she made this year. She listed a few reasons for leaving Bengaluru, such as potholes, time spent on travelling, waiting hours for cabs, insane traffic, hard water, low-quality food and healthcare and expensive living costs. 

Shreya further said that life has become calmer, happier, and healthier in Hyderabad. She highlighted that Hyderabad offers a better work-life balance, with improved infrastructure and lower living costs.

"A small career + life update - I moved from Uber Bengaluru to Uber Hyderabad earlier this year. Looking back, it's been one of the better decisions I've made for myself," she wrote in the post, which gained significant traction. "I didn't realise how much mental energy was being drained by everyday things until they were gone." 

Also read | Watch: Google Techie Takes "Proud Parents" On Office Visit, Shares Emotional Moment

"Hyderabad is calmer. That has translated into better health, more energy, and sharper focus at work. Bengaluru gave me a lot professionally. Hyderabad is giving me balance between personal and professional life," she said.

"Sometimes growth isn't about changing roles, it's about changing environments."

Also read | "Dear Indians, Stop Behaving Like This": Man Calls Out Tourists For Littering Kerala Beach

The post resonated with many, with one user saying, "That's the precise reason we migrated from Bangalore to Hyd over 6 yrs back. Hyd is simply much better than Bnglr."

"Hyderabad is way better than Bangalore," a second user said.

"100% true-and that's exactly why I'd never want to move back to Gurgaon or any other city," a third wrote.

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