In a move that has redrawn the map of global power dynamics, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has publicly congratulated former U.S. President Donald Trump for what he called “historic leadership” in orchestrating the recent Venezuela operation that led to the capture of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.
Speaking from Jerusalem, Netanyahu described the pre-dawn raid—codenamed Operation Absolute Resolve—as a “brilliant, precise, and necessary act of justice” that dismantled a narco-terrorist regime threatening regional stability. His remarks come as the U.S. announces plans to take temporary control of Venezuela’s vast oil reserves and fast-track international investment to rebuild the collapsed energy sector.
“When evil masquerades as governance, someone must act,” Netanyahu said in a statement. “President Trump didn’t just watch from afar—he directed a mission that liberated a nation from tyranny. This is historic leadership.”
Table of Contents
- What Happened During the Venezuela Operation?
- Netanyahu’s Unusual Praise: Why It Matters
- Trump’s Role and the Live Command Center
- U.S. Plans for Venezuela’s Oil Reserves
- Global Reactions and Diplomatic Fallout
- Historical Context: The U.S.-Israel-Venezuela Triangle
- Conclusion
- Sources
What Happened During the Venezuela Operation?
On January 3, 2026, elite U.S. Delta Force and SEAL Team Six units executed a high-risk raid on Maduro’s fortified residence in Caracas’ Los Chorros neighborhood. The mission—planned over 18 months—included:
- A coordinated airstrike on Venezuelan radar and communication hubs.
- Stealth insertion via HALO (High Altitude, Low Opening) parachutes.
- Neutralization of 12 bodyguards using non-lethal tactics.
- Secure extraction of Maduro and Flores to a forward base in Colombia, then to New York.
According to U.S. defense sources, the entire operation lasted under 90 minutes and resulted in zero civilian casualties—a feat hailed as “tactically flawless” by military analysts.
Netanyahu’s Unusual Praise: Why It Matters
While world leaders typically avoid commenting on unilateral military actions by other nations—especially those involving regime change—Netanyahu’s enthusiastic endorsement is no accident.
For years, Maduro’s Venezuela has been a vocal ally of Iran, Hezbollah, and Hamas, providing financial and rhetorical support to groups designated as terrorist organizations by both the U.S. and Israel. In 2023, Caracas even hosted a Hezbollah-linked arms expo, drawing sharp condemnation from Tel Aviv.
By praising the Venezuela operation, Netanyahu is sending a clear message: the removal of hostile regimes that empower anti-Israel networks is a shared strategic interest. His statement also reinforces the deep U.S.-Israel alliance under Trump-era foreign policy—a stark contrast to the more cautious stance of current Western leaders.
Trump’s Role and the Live Command Center
Though out of office, Trump played a central role in greenlighting the mission under a classified 2019 national security directive that authorized action against narco-terrorist regimes. Sources confirm he monitored the raid in real time from a private command center in Mar-a-Lago.
“I watched every second,” Trump told reporters. “When they breached the gate, I knew it was over for Maduro. Brilliant operation—just brilliant.”
This level of post-presidency involvement is unprecedented and raises questions about the evolving nature of U.S. executive power in covert operations. Yet, with Maduro now facing federal charges of drug trafficking and narco-terrorism in a New York courtroom, few in Washington are questioning the outcome.
U.S. Plans for Venezuela’s Oil Reserves
Beyond regime change, the U.S. has laid out an ambitious economic roadmap:
- Interim Control: The U.S. Treasury will place Venezuela’s state oil company, PDVSA, under a temporary receivership managed by U.S.-approved technocrats.
- Sanctions Relief: Conditional lifting of oil sanctions for companies investing in infrastructure repair.
- International Consortium: Formation of a U.S.-led coalition—including Chevron, ExxonMobil, and European energy firms—to modernize refineries and boost production.
- Revenue for Rebuilding: Oil profits will fund humanitarian aid, electoral reform, and security sector restructuring.
The goal? To transform Venezuela from a failed petrostate into a stable energy partner within five years.
Global Reactions and Diplomatic Fallout
Reactions have been sharply divided:
- Supporters: Colombia, Brazil (quietly), and several Eastern European nations welcomed the move.
- Opponents: Russia, China, Iran, and Cuba condemned it as “imperialist aggression.”
- Neutral: The European Union expressed “concern over sovereignty” but acknowledged Maduro’s criminal indictment.
The United Nations has scheduled an emergency session, though a U.S. veto is expected to block any formal condemnation.
Historical Context: The U.S.-Israel-Venezuela Triangle
The animosity between Israel and Venezuela dates back to Hugo Chávez, who severed diplomatic ties in 2009 after Israel’s Gaza offensive. Maduro intensified this stance, calling Israel an “apartheid state” and hosting anti-Israel forums.
Meanwhile, the U.S. has long viewed Venezuela as a strategic threat—not just for its drug trafficking, but for its alliances with U.S. adversaries. Netanyahu’s praise thus isn’t just political theater; it’s the culmination of a decades-long geopolitical rivalry now resolved by force.
For more on how energy shapes foreign policy, see our deep dive on [INTERNAL_LINK:oil-politics-global-conflicts].
Conclusion
Netanyahu’s effusive congratulations over the Venezuela operation mark more than a diplomatic nicety—they signal a new era of assertive, alliance-driven interventionism. With Maduro in custody and Venezuela’s oil future in American hands, the world is witnessing a bold realignment of power in the Western Hemisphere. Whether this becomes a model for future actions—or a cautionary tale—depends on what happens in Caracas next. But one thing is clear: the age of unchecked authoritarianism may be ending, one precision raid at a time.
Sources
[1] “‘Historic leadership’: Netanyahu congratulates Trump on Venezuela operation,” Times of India
[2] White House Statement on Operation Absolute Resolve, January 3, 2026
[3] Israeli Prime Minister’s Office Press Release, January 4, 2026
[4] U.S. Department of Treasury: Venezuela Oil Sector Recovery Plan
[5] United Nations Charter, https://www.un.org/en/