In Our Defence

The US Raid to Capture Maduro and the Indian 'Snatch Op' That Never Was | S3 | Ep 36

In Our Defence

Show Notes

On January 3, 2026, the United States military changed the rules of engagement. In a lightning-fast raid involving 150 aircraft and Delta Force operators, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro was captured from his palace in Caracas. The US calls it Operation Absolute Resolve. The world calls it the boldest special operation in history.

But beyond the headlines, how does a raid like this actually work? It’s not just bearded men kicking down doors -- it’s cyber warfare, diplomatic wrangling, and domain superiority.

In this episode of In Our Defence, host Dev Goswami and national security expert Sandeep Unnithan break down the mechanics of the Maduro snatch. They also talk about a little-known Indian operation called Operation Sundown -- an aborted 1983 plan to snatch Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale from the Golden Temple using similar tactics.

Tue in!

Produced by Taniya Dutta

Sound mixed by Aman Pal

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