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American officials assert their armed forces mission aimed at apprehending Venezuela's leader took many weeks of careful preparation, however the moment Donald Trump issued the command to launch, "Operation Absolute Resolve" concluded after roughly two and a half hours.

The surprise early-morning assault on Saturday signified a never-before-seen event within contemporary international relations and culminated in the arrest of Venezuela's president along with his spouse, Cilia Flores de Maduro.

Apprehended by troops belonging to an elite American military force while they attempted to escape into a fortified safe room, the two are now being held in a detention centre in New York and are confronting drug trafficking and terrorism accusations.

A Dawn Assault against the Military Complex

At sunrise on Saturday, the extent of the armed intervention in the capital, Venezuela's capital, became apparent.

Photographs of the vast military base, an enormous army installation in which key officials reside, reveal bombed out structures as well as burned, smoking vehicles.

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

Hours Earlier - The President Gives the Command

"Operation Absolute Resolve" started with reports of blasts at approximately 02:00 local time (6:00 Greenwich Mean Time).

The US disabled electricity across the capital, the President later described, calling it "dark and deadly".

The objective was to disable Venezuela's air defences and clear the way for American assault helicopters to get to the target.

"We assessed that we had maintained completely the advantage of surprise," the top general remarked.

Strike locations encompassed the base, a port and an airfield. Images depict the complex on fire, with huge flames seen from a great distance.

Venezuelans reported how US military helicopters flew low above the city, en route to Fuerte Tiuna.

A number of the aircraft came under fire, however managed to continue flying, military leaders stated.

There was significant weapons fire," Trump noted.

A Rapid On-the-Ground Operation

After landing, forces from the US Army's Delta Force, sprang into action.

They gained access the facility at 02:01 Caracas time, and the Maduros "gave up" without a struggle, as per reports.

But, more details emerged. The Maduros tried to escape into a secure location, referred to as a heavily fortified bunker.

The secure room was constructed of steel, and he failed to make it to the door as our personnel were so fast.

It featured an extremely heavy door, a very heavy door," the President told reporters. He reached to the door. He was unable to close it."

But even if they had managed to get into the bunker, forces could have blown it open in approximately "under a minute."

From Caracas to New York City

Currently under American detention, the couple were transported some 2,100 miles, to Manhattan.

They were flown from the capital by helicopter, and transferred to the USS Iwo Jima, a warship stationed in the Caribbean. The team was completed "over the water" before 4:30 AM.

Aboard the vessel that an iconic image from the entire mission emerged - the president in handcuffs, wearing ear protectors and darkened eyewear that looked like opaque glasses.

From the USS Iwo Jima, he was first flown to the US Navy base at Guantánamo Bay.

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

Confronting Justice on US Territory

On Saturday, a video emerged showing the detainee at the federal drug agency's headquarters in New York.

The couple are now detained at a federal holding facility in the city.

They have been charged including planning drug-related terrorism and import cocaine, owning automatic weapons and explosives, and conspiracy to possess machine guns and destructive devices to use against America.

"They will soon face the full wrath of the US legal system in the United States in American courts," the Attorney General proclaimed.

Video documents Maduro's arrival in US and journey to detention.