Gunfire was heard near Venezuela’s Miraflores presidential palace in Caracas on Monday night, just days after former president Nicolás Maduro was captured and brought to the United States. CNN obtained videos showed what appeared to be lights from drones and anti-aircraft fire across the night sky.On Monday morning, Maduro, handcuffed and flanked by armed federal agents, stepped off a helicopter in New York City. He had spent the night in a federal jail in Brooklyn before being transported to a Manhattan courthouse to face criminal charges. Attorney General Pam Bondi said Maduro was brought to the US to “face justice”.The Trump administration described the operation as “basically a law enforcement function”, rather than a military campaign.”All personnel involved acted professionally, decisively, and in strict accordance with US law and established protocols,” Bondi said.Maduro pleaded not guilty in court on Monday. His lawyers said they would challenge the legality of the US operation.Last week, the United States launched Operation Absolute Resolve, a top secret mission to capture Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and his wife. It was conducted in Caracas by Delta Force and US law enforcement personnel involving over 150 aircraft launched from 20 different locations. The operation aimed to bring Maduro to the US to face criminal charges related to narco-terrorism and cocaine trafficking. Maduro was flown to New York, where he was arraigned at a Manhattan courthouse and pleaded not guilty.After the mission, President Trump said that the US will ‘run’ Venezuela. Secretary of State Marco Rubio later clarified that the US does not intend to govern the Latin American country but will impose blockades on its oil sector.
