Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has revealed the scale of the military force used to apprehend Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, confirming that approximately 200 U.S. troops were involved in the ground operation in Caracas. The disclosure marks the first official confirmation of the footprint size for the high-stakes mission, dubbed “Operation Southern Spear.”
Speaking to reporters on Monday, Hegseth detailed that the force composition went beyond a small surgical team, involving a robust contingent of elite operators—likely Delta Force and support elements—to ensure the objective was secured in the heart of a hostile capital. “About 200 U.S. troops were involved in the ground operation,” Hegseth stated, highlighting the logistical complexity and the overwhelming force brought to bear against Maduro’s “fortified stronghold.”
The involvement of 200 operators on foreign soil underscores the massive risk calculation taken by the administration. A force of that size suggests that U.S. planners were prepared for significant resistance from the Venezuelan military (FANB) or paramilitary colectivos. The fact that such a large unit was able to infiltrate, execute the extraction, and exfiltrate without reported casualties aligns with earlier reports of a “well-coordinated” mission aided by internal intelligence and electronic warfare supremacy.
Hegseth’s comments also serve to counter narratives that this was a simple arrest; it was a major combat operation executed with precision. “We had the numbers to handle any contingency,” he implied, reinforcing the administration’s stance that the U.S. military capability remains unmatched.
Footage Charlie Kirk has been shot
Charlie Kirk has been shot
