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Russian Air Defenses in Venezuela Collapse as US Forces Storm Caracas
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![Photo of Ivan Khomenko]( "Photo of Ivan Khomenko")
The United States launched a large-scale military operation against Venezuela early on January 3, 2026. Initial strikes reportedly targeted the capital, Caracas, around 02:00 local time.
Videos circulating online show American helicopters in the skies over the city, and no visible signs of active air defense systems.
Early footage and satellite imagery suggest that US forces began the operation after several months of preparation. As of the time of reporting, no official statement had been issued by the US government regarding the operation’s objectives or scope.
🚨 BREAKING: Nicolás Maduro declares a state of emergency in Venezuela, urging citizens to mobilize to “defeat this imperialist aggression.” pic.twitter.com/Fi7c2lKvsC
— Frost (@FrostArxtic) January 3, 2026
US strikes reportedly focused on military infrastructure in Caracas, including Fort Tiuna — a major complex housing the Venezuelan military command.
Footage reviewed by Defense Express appears to show CH-47 Chinook helicopters operating over the capital, suggesting the deployment of US special forces and initial seizure of strategic sites such as airfields and command centers.
🚨 JUST IN: New footage appears to show a U.S. Army / United States Marine Corps attack helicopter firing rockets and its rotary cannon at a site near Caracas, Venezuela, intensifying fears of sustained combat operations around the capital. pic.twitter.com/ALF3gITINS
— Frost (@FrostArxtic) January 3, 2026
Despite previous reports that Russia had supplied Venezuela with additional air defense systems in 2024, including Buk-M2 and Pantsir units transported by Il-76 aircraft, these systems appear to have been ineffective or neutralized. Defense Express notes that no visible air defense response has been detected in videos recorded during the attacks.
Venezuela’s ground-based air defense network includes 1–2 divisions of S-300VM systems, 3–9 Buk-M2E systems, and over 6 S-125 Pechora-2M units — all of which are Russian-designed. Venezuela’s air force also relies heavily on 21 Su-30MKV fighters, a local variant of the Russian Su-30MK2.
🚨 BREAKING: Unverified reports claim the United States Marine Corps has begun ground operations on several Venezuelan islands, according to Rerum Novarum. pic.twitter.com/WgkhdFOAqb
— Frost (@FrostArxtic) January 3, 2026
Unofficial sources have suggested that US forces may have also landed on several Venezuelan islands in the Caribbean Sea, though this has not been confirmed.
The United States had been moving military assets to the region since at least August–September 2025, according to Defense Express.
🚨 BREAKING: Reports say U.S. strikes hit Venezuela’s defense headquarters, with explosions and smoke seen near Fort Tiuna in Caracas, Venezuela. pic.twitter.com/tB4ggCnSLY
— Frost (@FrostArxtic) January 3, 2026
Russia, a key military partner to Venezuela, had attempted to bolster the country’s air defenses in late 2024, but the current operation raises questions about the operational effectiveness of those systems in a modern battlefield environment.
Earlier, President Donald Trump said the United States had carried out a large‑scale military operation against Venezuela and claimed that President Nicolás Maduro and his wife were captured and taken out of the country, adding that further details would be announced at a press conference later the same day.
