🔷Trump Confirms U.S. Helicopter Pilots Wounded in High-Risk Maduro Raid, Highlighting Operational Costs of “Absolute Resolve”

President’s public acknowledgment underscores dangers U.S. forces faced during January operation to capture Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro amid broader regional security tensions

President Donald Trump on Friday publicly acknowledged that American helicopter pilots were wounded during Operation Absolute Resolve, the unprecedented U.S. military operation that resulted in the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and his wife from a fortified Caracas compound on Jan. 3.

Addressing troops at Fort Bragg, N.C., Trump said the pilots suffered significant leg injuries when their aircraft encountered hostile fire and defensive positions during the raid, a revelation that adds another layer of scrutiny to the risks American forces faced in executing such a bold mission.

“Those helicopter pilots were hit pretty bad in the legs,” Trump said, underscoring the perilous nature of the operation that involved more than 200 personnel and 150 aircraft across multiple U.S. military branches.

During his remarks, Trump framed the operation as a demonstration of U.S. military prowess and resolve, asserting that American forces remain unmatched globally.

Risk and Reward: Operational Costs

The U.S. mission – a highly coordinated air and ground effort that featured rotary-wing and fixed-wing aircraft alongside special operations units – has been called one of the most audacious deployments in recent U.S. history. Senior commanders have described the mission’s success as a testament to the Joint Force’s planning and execution.