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American officials assert the armed forces mission to capture Venezuela's leader involved months of planning, but the moment the US President gave the command to commence, "Operation Absolute Resolve" only lasted approximately two and a half hours.

The shocking early-morning assault this past weekend signified a historic event in contemporary international relations and culminated in the arrest of Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.

Seized by troops belonging to a top-tier American military force as they attempted to escape inside a fortified panic room, the two are now being held at a holding facility in New York and are confronting narco-terrorism charges.

A Early Morning Assault against the Military Complex

At sunrise on Saturday, the scale of the armed intervention in Caracas, Venezuela's primary city, was clear.

Images from Fuerte Tiuna, an enormous army installation in which top government officials reside, depict bombed out structures and burned, smouldering vehicles.

It was at this facility where Maduro and his wife were apprehended, Venezuelan ruling party leader a party official indicated.

Just Moments Before - The President Gives the Order

"Operation Absolute Resolve" started with reports of blasts around 02:00 in Caracas (06:00 GMT).

American forces disabled electricity across the capital, Trump later described, describing it as "dark and deadly".

The objective was to neutralize the nation's air defense systems and clear the way for US military helicopters to reach the target.

"We assessed that we had maintained totally the advantage of surprise," the top general commented.

Targeted sites encompassed the compound, a port and an airport. Pictures show Fuerte Tiuna engulfed in flames, with huge flames visible from a great distance.

Residents have described how US military helicopters flew low over Caracas, heading for the military base.

Some of the helicopters came under fire, but were still able to fly, military leaders stated.

"It was significant gunfire," the President added.

A Lightning-Fast Ground Assault

After landing, troops from the US Army's Delta Force, acted with speed.

They entered the facility just after 2 AM local time, and the presidential couple surrendered without resistance, as per reports.

However, further information were provided. They attempted to flee into a safe place, described as a heavily fortified bunker.

The secure room is all steel, and he failed to make it inside as our personnel were so fast.

It featured an extremely heavy entryway, a massive door," the President informed the media. He reached to the door. He was unable to shut it."

However, even assuming they had succeeded to enter the safe room, troops could have blown it open in about "47 seconds".

From the Capital to Manhattan

Now in US custody, the couple were transported approximately 3,400 kilometers, to New York City.

They were taken by air from the capital via chopper, and transferred to a US warship, a warship stationed in the Caribbean. The team was completed "over the water" by 04:29.

Aboard the vessel where one of the defining pictures from the entire mission was captured - Maduro in handcuffs, wearing ear protectors and a type of blindfold that looked like opaque glasses.

After leaving the ship, he was first flown to the US Navy base in Cuba.

The Maduros then traveled on a government plane to a military airfield in New York state, before a final helicopter transfer to Manhattan.

Facing Justice on US Territory

That same day, footage emerged depicting Maduro inside the Drug Enforcement Agency's (DEA) main office in the city.

The couple are now being held at a federal holding facility within the city.

They have been charged with conspiracy to commit narco-terrorism and cocaine trafficking, owning machine guns and destructive devices, and conspiracy to acquire such weapons and destructive devices to use against America.

"They will soon face the complete force of the US legal system in the United States in American courts," a senior legal official declared.

Video documents Maduro's arrival in US and journey into custody.