ConflictsVenezuela
What US attack says about Venezuela's military strength
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Aaron Tilton
January 8, 2026Advertisement
The US raid on Caracas captured Venezuela's leader, Nicolas Maduro, and signaled zero tolerance for resistance. Dozens of strikes killed at least 80, officials have said, with no US casualties.
Despite Venezuela's large force on paper, experts cite outdated Russian gear and economic strain. The US, though smaller in numbers, fields advanced assets like the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford and F-35s stealth fighter jets.
The White House has accuses Venezuela's military of aiding drug trafficking, a claim Maduro's regime has denied.