In the process of executing one of the most daring operations by Delta Force, US utilised its overwhelming technological & tactical superiority against Venezuela in the capture of its President. The preparation included round the clock aerial surveillance, creation of a maritime perimeter and a credible missile defence posture in the Caribbean waters, maritime interdiction plans against cartel routes with electronic disruption plans & other covert observation plans within Venezuela.
The preparation for use of conventional forces commenced with the reactivation of Cold War Military Infra of Roosevelt Roads Naval Base, Puerto Rico as a FOB which was otherwise closed since 2004.
The Henry E Rohlsen airport at US Virgin Islands was converted as a logistics base for transport of heavy military equipment. It was also utilised for AFSOC exercise Emerald Warrior in Sep 25 as a message to unfriendly governments like Venezuela in the region. The airport also saw the deployment of a new mobile radar system in Sep 25 which was believed to monitor narco-trafficking in the region, but also provided routine surveillance inputs. According to Reuters & US officials, since Aug 25, at least 13 warships were deployed in the Caribbean waters as part of Operation Southern Spear. The shaping operations commenced with interception of Venezuelan oil shipping vessels by Coast guard helicopters in order to prevent cash flows to the Maduro regime.
ISR & Air Dominance
Clandestine teams of CIA had commenced data collection & Intelligence gathering inside Venezuela since Aug 25. Naval Perimeter in the Caribbean Sea & ISR concentration, interventions & build up created a sense that drug cartels were likely to be targeted at their inland bases. This ensured adequate Deception & Surprise for the subsequent raid to capture President Nicolas Maduro as also readiness for any military escalations.
10 x F 35Bs of the US Marine Corps had started patrolling from Roosevelt Roads Naval Base since Oct 25 on ISR missions which prompted S 125 Pechora SAM redeployment by Venezuela in Oct 25. In the days leading to the raid, US deployed a number of Special Ops aircrafts, specialised EW planes, armed MQ9 Reaper drones, SAR helicopters & fighter jets under anti – drug cover. A week earlier, in the last week of Dec 25, the CIA had carried out a drone strike on a port potentially storing narcotics of the Tren de Aragua gang potentially signalling an intent of intervention inland.
Overall assessment of the Shaping Operations
Months of extensive CIA led surveillance & rehearsals led to a specialised & meticulous execution of the operation. Confirmed actionable intelligence from a key source with favourable weather ensured the ‘Timing’ of the raid underscoring the importance of ‘Human Intelligence’ & ‘Source’ cultivation. The US shaped the battlefield through layered asset deployment, air/naval superiority & pre- raid disruptions through cyber operations & drone strikes.
The multi-domain build-up ensured uncontested airspace and minimised risks. However, over allocation of resources for suppression, did signal overt power projection.