Name: 'Organized chaos’: Watch CNN’s forensic reconstruction of the US raid to capture Maduro
Uploaded: 2026-01-24T16:57:33.000Z
Duration: 3 min 56 s
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These ghost like figures are US helicopters on a mission to capture Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.

Adverbs of degree

Now CNN has found the operation's success came down to two critical minutes of extremely high risk.

According to a review of eyewitness videos from the scene.

forces were effectively sitting ducks landing in and lifting off from Maduro's compound.

We modeled out the area, analyzed helicopter flight paths and synchronized key videos to understand how the US successfully infiltrated a heavily fortified military compound despite the danger involved.

First you can see Chinooks, a US helicopter used to transport troops flying into the area from the south.

Their arrival is met with a barrage of Venezuelan anti aircraft fire.

Within seconds more helicopters, this time Black Hawks and attacking aircraft are seen arriving and circling overhead.

US General Dan Kaine later described this as multiple self defense engagements.

At least 100 people died in the overall operation.

Venezuelan authorities have since claimed.

And aftermath pictures hint at the deadly cost.

Blood on the ground, large burnt areas and blown out cars.

Two of the riskiest moments of the US operation are visible in the videos we're going to show you next.

A Chinook coming into land, a point when US forces are at their most vulnerable.

You see it again in this video as it's gaining altitude.

Then a second Chinook takes off around 20 seconds later.

We then search for exactly where these helicopters were taking off from you using identifiable geographical features like this building in the foreground and this dark hillside behind.

Our analysis indicates it took off from this location.

It's within Fortuna, one of Venezuela's biggest military complexes.

Satellite imagery taken the day after the operation reveals minor damage to these roofs.

Too minor to be a direct attack, but possibly the result of a helicopter hovering overhead.

Where Maduro stayed in Fortuna was previously undisclosed.

But CNN's analysis gives the most definitive picture yet of where he was that night and his likely residence.

Past videos show the former President seemingly at home at this location.

That building was converted into a large white complex last year and he was over here in July sitting outside having coffee.

As the Chinooks take off from this location, attack helicopters can be seen circling overhead and firing to protect the Chinooks as they depart.

We spoke to a former member of the US Air Force's elite special warfare team, Wes Bryant, about this critical sighting.

Clearly you know, I think this was the best move to land right on the compound because the key here was of course speed and surprise.

But it was also the timing they needed to get in and out as quick as possible.

How many of the helicopters in this operation would be landing right on the compound?

So if it's just one or two helicopters, is there a chance that Maduro could be on board?

I mean, he, he would have been on board one of, one of those Chinooks.

Brian believes the operation was ultimately quite lucky.

I think it largely had to do with the element of surprise.

And it could have gone entirely differently.

Just one small factor could have flipped the coin on this.

As he awaits trial, Maduro's fate still rests in American hands, a fact both extraordinary and intensely controversial.