Satellite images from Planet Labs and Vantor show damage at Higuerote Airport east of Caracas and at the Fuerte Tiuna military complex after a US operation, Operation Absolute Resolve. US strikes targeted air defenses and other facilities, reportedly involving more than 150 aircraft after months of planning. The mission occurred amid an increased US military presence in the Caribbean and follows allegations that led to Nicolás Maduro's arrest in New York.
Satellite Images Reveal Craters at Higuerote Airport and Damage to Caracas Military Base After US Strikes
The US military struck the Higuerote Airport as part of its operation in Venezuela over the weekend.Planet Labs PBC
Satellite imagery released after a US operation in Venezuela shows damage extending beyond a principal military complex, with visible impacts at Higuerote Airport on the country’s northern coast.
Craters and damage are visible at the airport.Planet Labs PBC
What The Images Show
Commercial satellite photos captured on Saturday by Planet Labs PBC and reviewed by Business Insider show a crater or burn mark near the eastern end of Higuerote’s runway and another scar on the apron close to a cluster of buildings. Post-strike imagery and video circulated on social media show rubble on the tarmac, wreckage consistent with a small aircraft, and what some outlets identified as a BUK surface-to-air missile system.
The US targeted Venezuela's air defenses during the operation.SOCIAL MEDIA/via REUTERS
Targets And Tactical Context
US officials said the operation, codenamed Operation Absolute Resolve, struck Venezuelan air defenses, military bases, and other facilities. Officials also said the strikes were intended to clear the way for low-flying helicopters carrying apprehension teams. More than 150 US aircraft reportedly participated in the mission after months of planning and rehearsals that included building a replica of the target compound for training.
The remains of what appears to be a light aircraft at Higuerote.SOCIAL MEDIA/via REUTERS
Damage In Caracas
Imagery from the spatial-intelligence firm Vantor indicated substantial damage at Fuerte Tiuna, a major military complex in Caracas that houses defense ministries, command centers and official residences. Analysts at the Institute for the Study of War reported that geolocated footage suggested US forces also struck port infrastructure, telecommunications towers, and an airbase in and around Caracas.
The aftermath of the US strikes on January 3.Satellite image ©2026 Vantor.
Official Responses And Uncertainties
The Pentagon did not immediately provide detailed comment on the specific targets struck during the mission; the White House directed inquiries to its Saturday press briefing. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth commented publicly that the strikes appeared to have degraded air defenses, saying, "Seems those Russian air defenses didn't quite work so well, did they?"
Broader Context
The strikes come amid an expanded US military presence in the Caribbean that has included an aircraft carrier strike group, cruisers, destroyers, advanced fighter jets, and thousands of personnel. Since early September, US forces have conducted operations against suspected drug-smuggling vessels in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific — a campaign that, according to some reports, has resulted in more than 100 deaths and has drawn criticism from lawmakers and legal experts.
Former Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro is reported to be in New York facing narco-terrorism charges; he has pleaded not guilty. The operation marked a dramatic escalation in tensions between the Trump administration and Maduro’s government, and US officials warned neighboring countries to avoid actions that might interfere with operations in the region.
Note: Some casualty figures and damage assessments rely on open-source reporting, firm imagery, and conflict-analyst assessments; independent on-the-ground verification is limited.
