Sen. Ted Cruz described a Jan. 3 covert U.S. operation against Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, saying American troops were wounded but continued fighting. Cruz, accompanied by Sen. John Cornyn and Army Secretary Pete Hegseth, visited three of the seven injured soldiers at a San Antonio hospital. Two soldiers asked to keep the bullet and a piece of shrapnel removed from their bodies; Hegseth reportedly signed waivers allowing the fragments to be returned as mementos. All three are said to be in good condition.
Hegseth Approves Return of Bullets and Shrapnel to Wounded U.S. Troops After Covert Raid on Maduro, Cruz Says
Deposed Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, after landing at a Manhattan helipad en route to a federal courthouse Jan. 5, in New York City.(Getty Images)
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) disclosed new details about a covert Jan. 3 operation targeting Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, saying U.S. servicemembers who were wounded continued fighting and later requested to keep the bullet fragments and shrapnel removed from their bodies.
On an episode of his podcast "Verdict With Ted Cruz," Cruz described accompanying Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) and Army Secretary Pete Hegseth to a San Antonio hospital to visit three of the seven soldiers wounded during Operation Absolute Resolve. According to Cruz, the U.S. forces were outnumbered and came under fire from Cuban personnel assigned to protect Maduro.
Venezuelan citizens celebrate during a rally on the Colombia-Venezuela border after the confirmation of Nicolás Maduro's capture Jan. 3 in Caracas.
"It is an incredible testament to the precision and effectiveness of our military that not a single soldier on the American side was killed," Cruz said. "There was a very large number of Cuban forces defending Maduro who were killed in that firefight."
Cruz said the first soldier they visited had helped plan the operation and was leading one of the helicopters when he was shot in the leg. Despite the injury, the servicemember continued fighting and played a critical role in protecting his teammates.
During the visit, the soldier told Cruz that he would like to keep the bullet removed from his leg. Cruz said the hospital's medical director initially indicated the fragment could not be released without a waiver. According to Cruz, Secretary Hegseth signed the waiver and the soldier received the bullet, visibly pleased.
Cruz spoke out about the covert Venezuela mission on a recent episode of his podcast.
The second soldier had a long arm wound caused by shrapnel and made the same request. Again, Hegseth reportedly authorized the release after the hospital raised waiver concerns. Cruz said both service members will likely keep the fragments as framed mementos alongside the Purple Hearts they earned.
All three soldiers visited by the lawmakers are reportedly in good condition, though Cruz said their names and ages have not been released. He described their demeanor as modest and resilient and praised their role in what he called a mission of significant historical impact for the Western Hemisphere.
Cruz also recounted a lighthearted exchange between the leg-wounded soldier and Hegseth, noting the soldier's readiness to return to duty. Cruz's office did not immediately respond to requests for additional comment.
Context And Notes
This account is based on Cruz's remarks on his podcast and reflects his recounting of the hospital visit and interactions with the wounded troops and Secretary Hegseth. Additional official details about the operation and the service members involved have not been publicly released.
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