Key developments: Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were injured after striking a low steel doorframe while fleeing US forces; Delta Force operators captured the couple and administered first aid. A heavy firefight with a nearby Cuban quick reaction force left dozens dead according to Cuba and injured several US operators, though US injuries were reported as non-life-threatening. Officials told lawmakers the operation was not intended as regime change and said Delcy Rodríguez is effectively leading the government while contacts continue.
Maduro and Wife Injured While Fleeing US Forces; Delta Force Captures Couple Amid Deadly Firefight
Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores are seen in handcuffs after landing at a Manhattan helipad, on their way to a federal courthouse in the Manhattan borough of New York on January 5, 2026. - XNY/Star Max/GC Images/Getty Images
Senior Trump administration officials told lawmakers that former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, sustained head injuries after striking a low steel doorframe while attempting to flee US forces sent to apprehend them, sources briefed on the session said.
According to the briefing, Maduro and Flores ran and tried to hide behind a heavy steel door inside their compound; because the doorframe was low, both struck their heads during the escape. Delta Force operators apprehended the couple and provided first aid after extracting them from the property.
High-level Briefing
Top administration figures — identified in the briefing as Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine, Attorney General Pam Bondi and CIA Director John Ratcliffe — spent more than two hours briefing senior lawmakers Monday evening, according to sources.
Court Appearance and Medical Concerns
Maduro and Flores appeared in court with visible injuries. Flores’s attorney told the judge she “sustained significant injuries” during what her counsel described as an abduction and asked for an X‑ray and a full medical evaluation, noting possible rib fracture or severe bruising. Reporters said Flores swayed and lowered her head at times, and court sketches showed bandages on her head; Maduro reportedly had difficulty sitting and standing during parts of the hearing.
"She sustained significant injuries," Flores' attorney told the judge, and requested further medical testing to ensure her health moving forward.
Administration officials who briefed lawmakers characterized Flores’ head wound as minor and said they had linked the injuries to the couple’s attempt to flee through the low-framed doorway. CNN has sought comment from the couple’s lawyers about these accounts.
Combat, Casualties and Troop Presence
Officials said some Delta Force operators were also wounded after a heavy firefight erupted with a Cuban quick reaction force stationed near Maduro’s compound. Troops sustained wounds from bullets and shrapnel, but their injuries were described as non-life-threatening and they are expected to recover. Cuba’s government reported that 32 of its military and police officers were killed; briefers told lawmakers they did not have a precise count and noted the toll could be higher. Nearly 200 US personnel were on the ground in Caracas during the operation, an official said.
Policy Context and Leadership Aftermath
Officials emphasized the operation was not intended as a regime change effort. The Venezuelan government remains largely intact and, the briefers said, has been led in practice by Vice President Delcy Rodríguez since the operation. The administration has been in contact with Rodríguez and expects her to play a role in stabilizing governance and potentially cooperating on rebuilding Venezuela’s oil infrastructure, though no formal agreements reportedly exist.
The administration’s posture toward Rodríguez was informed by a classified CIA analysis of the likely implications of Maduro’s removal, sources said. That assessment was commissioned by senior policymakers and will continue to guide discussions about Venezuela’s leadership situation.
For ongoing updates, reporters have contacted lawyers for Maduro and Flores and officials involved in the briefing. Details remain subject to confirmation as additional reporting and medical evaluations proceed.
