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The US claim their armed forces mission to capture Venezuela's president took many weeks of careful preparation, but when the US President gave the command to launch, "Operation Absolute Resolve" was completed in roughly 150 minutes.

The unexpected early-morning assault on Saturday signified an unprecedented incident within contemporary international relations and led directly to the detention of Venezuela's president along with his spouse, Cilia Flores.

Apprehended by soldiers from an elite US army unit while they attempted to flee into a heavily secured secure chamber, the pair are now being held at a holding facility in New York and face narco-terrorism charges.

A Early Morning Raid against Fuerte Tiuna

With daybreak on Saturday, the extent of the military operation in Caracas, Venezuela's primary city, became apparent.

Pictures of the vast military base, a massive army installation in which senior leadership reside, depict destroyed buildings as well as burned, smouldering vehicles.

It was at this compound that the president and first lady were apprehended, Venezuelan ruling party leader a party official indicated.

Just Moments Earlier - Trump Gives the Command

The mission began amid reports of explosions around 02:00 local time (6:00 Greenwich Mean Time).

American forces disabled electricity across the capital, the President has since said, describing it as "dark and deadly".

The aim was to disable the nation's air defense systems and clear the way for US military helicopters to get to the target.

Our evaluation was that we successfully kept totally the advantage of surprise," the top general remarked.

Targeted sites included the base, a maritime facility and an airfield. Pictures show the complex engulfed in flames, with massive fires visible from a great distance.

Residents have described how US military helicopters flew low over Caracas, en route to Fuerte Tiuna.

Some of the helicopters were shot at, however managed to continue flying, military leaders stated.

"It was significant weapons fire," the President noted.

The Lightning-Fast On-the-Ground Operation

After landing, forces from an elite special operations unit, acted with speed.

They gained access the facility just after 2 AM local time, and the presidential couple "gave up" without a struggle, according to reports.

But, further information emerged. The Maduros attempted to flee into a safe place, described as a military "fortress".

The secure room was constructed of steel, and he failed to make it to the door as our personnel were so fast.

It featured an extremely heavy door, a massive door," the President informed the media. "He made it to the door. He was unable to shut it."

But even if they had succeeded to get into the safe room, forces could have blown it open in approximately "47 seconds".

From the Capital to New York City

Currently under American detention, the couple were transported approximately 2,100 miles, to New York City.

They were flown from the capital via chopper, and transferred to the USS Iwo Jima, a naval vessel positioned off the coast. The team was completed "over the water" before 4:30 AM.

It was on the ship where one of the defining pictures of the whole operation was captured - the president shackled, with hearing protection and darkened eyewear resembling dark sunglasses.

From the USS Iwo Jima, he was first flown at the American naval installation in Cuba.

They then traveled via official aircraft to Stewart Air National Guard Base in New York state, before a final helicopter transfer to Manhattan.

Confronting Justice in American Soil

That same day, a video emerged depicting Maduro inside the federal drug agency's headquarters in the city.

The couple are now being held in a detention centre in the city.

They face charges including conspiracy to commit narco-terrorism and import cocaine, owning machine guns and destructive devices, and plots to possess machine guns and bombs to use against America.

They are set to encounter the complete force of American justice on American soil in American courts," a senior legal official declared.

Footage documents Maduro's arrival in US and journey to detention.