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Senior leaders from the White House arrived on Capitol Hill to justify one of the most audacious armed interventions in modern American memory: the seizure of a sitting head of state from his own capital.

Operation Particulars Revealed to Senators

The secretaries of state and defense, the attorney general, the intelligence chief, and the chair of the joint chiefs informed all 100 U.S. senators on the mission, the lightning raid that extracted the Venezuelan president, Nicolás Maduro, from his home in Caracas and brought him to a New York City jail cell.

This session marked the first time the full Senate heard particulars of the 3 January attack, which involved U.S. special forces swooping into Venezuela in the pre-dawn hours to seize Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.

A Plan Centered on Oil

Officials described a three-phase plan for Venezuela that revolved around oil: first, bringing order to the nation; next, finding access for companies to enter the Venezuelan market; and a final phase described as “one of transition.”

“We are going to take between 30 and 50 million barrels of oil,” one official stated. “We’re going to sell it in the marketplace at market rates, not at the discounts Venezuela was getting.”

Partisan Split Emerges in Washington

Beyond the oil, the operation has split Washington along predictable lines. Republicans have united in support of the portrayal of the raid as a straightforward law enforcement action targeting an indicted drug trafficker. Democrats warn of an unlawful military aggression that could destabilize the South American nation and set a dangerous precedent for unilateral presidential action.

“What we did is we took out an illegitimate president,” one Republican senator said. “He was never properly voted into office, so there can’t be regime change if he should have never been put in place to begin with.”

Operational Timeline and Court Case

In the early morning hours, special operations forces struck multiple targets across northern Venezuela, apprehended Maduro and Flores, transported them to a naval vessel, flew them to a U.S. air base, and then delivered them to authorities in New York. Days later, Maduro stood in federal court entering a denial to charges including “drug terrorism” conspiracy.

Democratic Skepticism and Citizen Concern

One Democratic senator emerged from the confidential briefing incredulous, stating the administration is “going to take the oil by force.”

“This is an reckless scheme,” the lawmaker said. “They are talking about stealing Venezuelan oil at gunpoint for an unspecified time as a bargaining chip to control the nation's affairs.” The senator added that they “heard no detailed plan” for ensuring Venezuela’s stability.

This pushback reflects wider citizen anxiety. Polls indicate a significant portion of the public believe the operation should have required congressional approval. Separate surveys found about 75% express worry the U.S. will become too involved in Venezuela. Overall public opinion echoes the partisan split on Capitol Hill.

“Across America, people are just saying what the hell is going on?” a senior Democratic leader stated. “We need answers as to the duration of this engagement. We need answers on military presence, financial cost, and what guardrails are in place.”

Uncertain Future and Global Criticism

The question of the next steps in Venezuela remains unclear. Leadership has stated the U.S. would “run” the country for an unspecified period.

“The reality is the entire previous government structure is still intact,” one analyst noted. “Everyone is in great admiration of the capability of our military... but there is little clarity about what comes next.”

International condemnation has been swift. Numerous nations have denounced the operation. At the United Nations, representatives from other major powers demanded Maduro’s immediate release, while the U.S. defended the action as targeted law enforcement.

Broader Strategic Focus

Republican lawmakers are also narrowing their sights toward Greenland, citing defense concerns.

“China and Russia are operating off the coast Greenland,” one GOP senator said. “In my view, we have a significant strategic stake in Greenland.”

The administration has kept a naval fleet positioned off Venezuela’s coast and recently seized Venezuela-linked oil tankers, indicating it has no intention to ease pressure.

“Our military is ready to persist in this,” a senior defense official told reporters. “We are an administration of deeds to promote our national goals, and that is on full display.”