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A RESOLUTION recognizing the tremendous skill and efficiency of the United 1
States of America's elite Delta Force for the successful capture of Venezuelan President 2
Nicolas Maduro. 3
WHEREAS, on January 3, 2026, the United States military and law enforcement 4
officials captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in a high -stakes military 5
operation, a mission carried out by the United States Army's Delta Force and suppo rted 6
by extensive American airpower with more than 150 aircraft, including bombers, fighters, 7
intelligence, reconnaissance, surveillance, and rotary wing aircraft; and 8
WHEREAS, for months, United States spies had been monitoring President 9
Maduro's every mo ve. In early December, a planned mission dubbed "Operation 10
Absolute Resolve" was finalized. It was the result of months of meticulous planning and 11
rehearsals, which even included elite United States troops creating in Kentucky an exact 12
full-size replica of Maduro's Caracas, Venezuela safe house to practice their entry routes; 13
and 14
WHEREAS, over the weeks through Christmas and New Year, the men and women 15
of the United States military sat ready, patiently waiting for the right triggers to be met 16
and the Presid ent to order them into action. Finally, at 10:46 p.m. on January 2, 2026, 17
President Donald Trump gave the order with the words, "good luck and Godspeed"; and 18
WHEREAS, what followed was a mission by air, land, and sea that stunned the 19
world. The scale and p recision of the mission, that lasted only two hours and twenty 20
minutes, was virtually unprecedented; and 21
WHEREAS, as airstrikes rang out around Caracas, United States forces made their 22
way into the city. Included were members of the elite Delta Force, the United States 23
military's top special mission unit, flown in by the "Night Stalkers" of the 160th Special 24
Operations Aviation Regiment based out of Fort Campbell, Kentucky. These forces were 25
heavily armed and made the first strikes on President Maduro's mil itary fortress in the 26
heart of Caracas; and 27
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WHEREAS, the troops took fire when they arrived, and one of the helicopters was 1
hit but still able to fly. The apprehension force descended into Maduro's compound and 2
moved with speed, precision, and discipline, according to Airforce General Dan Caine, 3
the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; and 4
WHEREAS, as the elite Delta Force flooded in, President Maduro attempted to flee 5
to a safe room but never made it inside the door. Delta Force was there too quickly for 6
the door to close and President Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were apprehended with 7
no United States military force fatalities; and 8
WHEREAS, the decisive action and planning of the executive orders to capture 9
President Maduro and his wife were aided in no small part by the Commonwealth of 10
Kentucky providing the replica of the military safe house compound for practice of the 11
mission and the Fort Campbell "Night Stalkers" of the 160th Special Operations Aviation 12
Regiment; and 13
WHEREAS, the members of the elite Delta Force are commended for their 14
effectiveness and efficiency in carrying out sensitive missions throughout the world; 15
NOW, THEREFORE, 16
Be it resolved by the Senate of the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of 17
Kentucky: 18
Section 1. The Senate hereby recognize the tremendou s skill and efficiency of 19
the United States of America's elite Delta Force for the successful capture of Venezuelan 20
President Nicolas Maduro on January 3, 2026. 21
Section 2. When the Senate adjourns this day, it does so in honor of the brave 22
servicemembers who fight for our freedoms. 23
Section 3. The Clerk of the Senate is directed to transmit a copy of this 24
Resolution to Senator Phillip Wheeler. 25