US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth made a major statement shedding light on the details of a recent special operation in Caracas. According to him, the layered air defense system deployed in the Venezuelan capital proved powerless against US forces. Specifically, Hegseth emphasized that Russian-made systems, previously considered a reliable shield for the Maduro regime, failed to detect and neutralize the assets used in the operation.
Failure of Russian air defense and Cuban security
In his address, the US Secretary of Defense paid special attention to the role of foreign experts. According to Washington, the specialized experts from Cuba and technical specialists from Russia recruited for security failed to prevent the removal of the target from the control zone. Hegseth stated that security structures formed with the participation of foreign mercenaries demonstrated complete inefficiency in the conditions of real confrontation.
Evacuation of foreign advisors
The situation in the region is changing rapidly. The head of the Pentagon confirmed that an active process of withdrawing Cuban and Russian specialized personnel from Venezuelan territory has begun. According to the US Department of Defense, there is a sharp reduction in the presence of foreign military advisors and technical specialists in the region. This indicates a loss of confidence in their ability to ensure the security of the regime and a possible reconsideration by Venezuela of its foreign policy strategy under pressure.
Context of the operation and legal consequences
Events in Caracas have become the culmination of a long period of confrontation between the US administration and the government of Nicolas Maduro. The active phase of the operation in January 2026 lasted several hours, although its planning had been underway for months. Washington justifies its actions with court rulings and executive orders on national security. Nevertheless, such military interventions on the territory of sovereign states are causing sharp discussions in the UN Security Council regarding the observance of sovereignty principles and norms of international law.
Contradictory data
While the Pentagon claims full effectiveness of the operation and the failure of defense systems, independent experts urge caution in assessment. On the one hand, the US side insists that the air defense systems "failed to detect" the passage of assets. On the other hand, official comments from Caracas and Moscow have not yet confirmed the complete evacuation of personnel, pointing out that some specialists may remain in the region to analyze the situation. The discrepancy in versions regarding the exact status of foreign advisors requires further fact-checking and verification by international commissions.
