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The US assert their armed forces mission to capture Venezuela's president required many weeks of planning, but the moment the US President issued the order to commence, the mission dubbed "Absolute Resolve" concluded after about 150 minutes.

The surprise pre-dawn assault this past weekend marked a never-before-seen incident within modern politics and culminated in the arrest for Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores de Maduro.

Apprehended by soldiers from an elite US army unit when they attempted to flee inside a heavily secured panic room, the pair are now being held at a holding facility within New York City and are confronting narco-terrorism charges.

The Dawn Raid on the Military Complex

At sunrise that morning, the scale of the military operation in Caracas, the nation's capital, became apparent.

Photographs of the vast military base, a huge military complex in which key officials live, depict bombed out buildings as well as charred, smouldering vehicles.

The location was this facility that Maduro and his wife were captured, a senior political figure a party official reported.

Just Moments Earlier - The President Issues the Order

The mission commenced amid reports of explosions at about 2 AM in Caracas (06:00 GMT).

American forces cut power to the city, Trump has since said, describing it as "dark and deadly".

The goal was to disable Venezuela's air defense systems and clear the way for American assault helicopters to reach Fuerte Tiuna.

Our evaluation was that we had maintained totally the advantage of surprise," the top general remarked.

Targeted sites encompassed the compound, a maritime facility and an airport. Images show the complex engulfed in flames, with massive fires visible from a great distance.

Residents have described how US military helicopters flew low above the city, heading for the military base.

A number of the aircraft were shot at, however were still able to fly, military leaders stated.

"It was significant weapons fire," Trump noted.

A Lightning-Fast On-the-Ground Operation

After landing, forces from an elite special operations unit, sprang into action.

They gained access to the compound at 02:01 Caracas time, and the Maduros surrendered without a struggle, as per reports.

But, more details were provided. The Maduros attempted to flee into a safe place, referred to as a military "fortress".

The secure room was constructed of steel, and he wasn't able to get inside because our guys were so fast.

It featured a very thick door, a very heavy door," Trump told reporters. He reached to the door. He could not to shut it."

However, even assuming they had succeeded to enter the safe room, forces could have blown it open in about "47 seconds".

From Caracas to Manhattan

Currently under American detention, the couple were transported some 3,400 kilometers, to New York City.

They were taken by air from the capital by helicopter, and transferred to the USS Iwo Jima, a warship positioned in the Caribbean. The operation was back in international waters by 04:29.

It was on the ship where one of the defining pictures from the entire mission was captured - Maduro shackled, with hearing protection and darkened eyewear resembling opaque glasses.

After leaving the ship, he was first flown at the American naval installation in Cuba.

The Maduros then traveled on a government plane to a military airfield in New York state, and then via helicopter into New York City.

Confronting Justice in US Territory

On Saturday, a video emerged showing the detainee at the Drug Enforcement Agency's (DEA) headquarters in New York.

The couple are presently being held at a federal holding facility within the city.

They have been charged with planning narco-terrorism and import cocaine, possession of automatic weapons and destructive devices, and plots to acquire machine guns and bombs against the US.

"They will soon face the complete force of the US legal system in the United States within US courtrooms," the Attorney General proclaimed.

Footage documents the leader's entry into American and transport into custody.