U.S. intelligence agencies backed overnight Caracas operation targeting Maduro and military sites

The National Security Agency provided geolocation assistance and indicators and warning support to monitor communications and signals linked to potential troop movements or radar activation. The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said these capabilities were used to gather intelligence in support of the operation.

Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine said the Central Intelligence Agency, the NSA and the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency were involved, with NGA providing imagery and mapping data. In the months before the mission, U.S. intelligence agencies compiled detailed intelligence on Maduro’s daily movements, habits and personal details, Caine said.

Reports also indicated that the CIA supported the Army’s Delta Force in tracking and locating Maduro, though this could not be independently confirmed at the time of publication. The CIA has been conducting covert operations in Caracas for months using highly protected intelligence assets.

At a Saturday press conference, Donald Trump said lights in Caracas “were largely turned off due to an expertise that we have,” without explaining the methods used. Caine also said United States Cyber Command took part in the operation, but he did not provide details of its actions.