Satellite Images Reveal Heavy Damage at Fuerte Tiuna After US Operation to Capture Nicolás Maduro

New satellite imagery captured by the US spatial-intelligence firm Vantor and obtained by Business Insider shows extensive damage across the Fuerte Tiuna military complex in southern Caracas following US strikes tied to an operation to seize Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.

The images depict ruined buildings, damaged storage facilities, multiple destroyed vehicles, and blasted security structures at a gate to the compound. Vantor’s photos provide a clear before-and-after view of the destruction concentrated around key military infrastructure.

Operation Details

According to the White House, the operation—called "Operation Absolute Resolve"—began late Friday and continued into the early hours of Saturday. US officials say aircraft including fighter jets, surveillance planes, bombers and drones struck Venezuelan air defenses to clear a corridor for an apprehension team. President Donald Trump announced the mission and said it was intended to capture Maduro and extradite him to face drug-related charges in New York; the administration had earlier placed a $50 million bounty on Maduro.

US officials reported that Maduro and his wife were taken into custody and flown to the US Navy amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima ahead of a planned transfer to New York. Venezuelan authorities, however, strongly condemned the strikes and described the action as an attack on military and civilian targets.

Eyewitness Footage, Casualties, And Damage

Video circulating on social media showed helicopters over Caracas and large plumes of smoke rising from parts of the city. President Trump said several American personnel were injured and that one helicopter was hit; he added there were no US fatalities and no equipment lost, according to his statement. Dan Caine, described in US reports as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said the apprehension team faced heavy fire while entering Maduro’s fortified compound.

Regional And Political Fallout

The raid represents a major escalation in US pressure on the Maduro government, following months of military deployments in the Caribbean, strikes on vessels accused of smuggling narcotics and seizures of Venezuela-linked tankers. International reaction was immediate: nearby governments and some US Democrats criticized the operation, while many Republicans voiced support. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said members of Congress were not notified in advance and were informed only after the operation.

The satellite images underscore the physical toll of the mission on Venezuelan military infrastructure and raise broader questions about the political and humanitarian consequences for Venezuela. Business Insider and Vantor are credited for the imagery used in this report.