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False Alarm: Viral Videos of Alleged US Operation Against Venezuela’s Maduro Debunked
Videos circulating on social media claiming to show “Operation Absolute Resolve” – an alleged U.S. military operation that captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro – have been verified as false, according to an investigation by Vishvas News.
Two different videos have been making rounds online, with users claiming they depict American forces capturing Maduro and his wife from their home in Caracas on January 3, 2026, before transporting them to the United States to face arms and drug trafficking charges.
Social media user Surya Samajvadi shared one of the videos with the caption: “When Venezuela refused to supply oil to USA companies arbitrarily, America sent in the army and arrested the President. America did not become the number one country in the world on its own, but by oppressing smaller countries.”
However, investigators have determined that the first viral video, which shows soldiers descending from a Boeing Chinook helicopter onto a building rooftop, is actually footage from a U.S. military training exercise conducted months earlier. Through reverse image search, the video was traced to an account named @MargoMartin47, who shared it on June 11, 2025.
Further research revealed that the footage matches images from a U.S. Army Special Operations Command Capability Exercise held at Fort Liberty, North Carolina, between April 5-12, 2024. During this exercise, U.S. Army Rangers practiced assaulting a building using an MH-47 Chinook helicopter.
Umashankar Singh, a senior journalist covering foreign affairs, confirmed to investigators that “The video is file footage of a U.S. military exercise,” not an actual military operation in Venezuela.
The second viral video, which purports to show U.S. soldiers capturing Maduro himself, was subjected to analysis by Swiss deeptech company Origin.ai and Google’s SynthID tool. Both analyses confirmed the video is likely AI-generated, with certain frames showing a 100% probability of artificial creation.
While former President Trump did make statements regarding Maduro’s capture following explosions in Caracas early Saturday morning, and shared a photo purportedly showing Maduro aboard a U.S. Navy ship, the complete video of any such military operation has not been released by official sources due to security reasons.
The claims about “Operation Absolute Resolve” have generated significant international reaction, with Russia condemning it as “a serious violation of any country’s sovereignty and international law” if proven true. China expressed being “deeply shocked” and strongly condemned “the U.S.’s blatant use of force against a sovereign country.” Meanwhile, Argentina reportedly welcomed the U.S. action, while the British Prime Minister stated that Britain had no involvement in the attacks.
The circulation of these misleading videos highlights the growing challenge of disinformation in international affairs, particularly when it involves geopolitically sensitive relationships. As tensions between the United States and Venezuela have fluctuated over the years due to political differences, oil trade disputes, and human rights concerns, such false information could potentially exacerbate diplomatic strain.
Fact-checking organizations continue to play a crucial role in verifying the authenticity of multimedia content, especially as AI-generated media becomes increasingly sophisticated and difficult to distinguish from genuine footage.
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15 Comments
This is a good reminder to be cautious about unverified viral videos, especially ones that could have serious political implications. I’m curious to learn more about the actual military training exercises that were misconstrued.
Absolutely. It’s important to separate real news from misinformation, even when the videos seem convincing. Fact-checking is key.
This is a sobering example of how quickly misinformation can spread online, even around serious issues like military operations. I’m glad the authorities were able to investigate and confirm that these viral videos were false. It’s a strong reminder of the importance of verifying sources and content before sharing or engaging with them.
It’s worrying to see how quickly misinformation can spread, even around sensitive military and political issues. I’m glad the authorities were able to investigate and confirm that these viral videos were false. Fact-checking is so important to prevent the spread of harmful narratives.
This is a prime example of the need for thorough fact-checking, especially when it comes to viral videos and claims about military and political matters. I’m glad the authorities were able to debunk these false claims, but it’s concerning how easily misinformation can spread online.
Absolutely. In today’s digital landscape, it’s crucial that people approach viral content with a critical eye and verify the facts before sharing or engaging with it.
Interesting to see how misinformation can spread on social media. It’s important to verify claims and footage before sharing them as facts. I wonder what the real story is behind these training exercises and the viral videos.
Agreed. Fact-checking is crucial to avoid spreading false narratives, especially around sensitive geopolitical issues.
I appreciate the diligence of the authorities in investigating and debunking these false viral videos. It’s a good reminder that we must be cautious about unverified claims, especially when they involve sensitive topics like military operations. Fact-checking is key to preventing the spread of harmful misinformation.
It’s concerning how quickly misleading videos can spread online. I’m glad the authorities were able to investigate and debunk this particular claim. Verifying sources and content is so important, especially for sensitive military and political matters.
I share your concern. Misinformation can have real-world consequences, so it’s critical that people take the time to fact-check before sharing.
This is a good reminder of the need for robust fact-checking, even for seemingly authoritative military footage. It’s easy for videos to be taken out of context and used to spread misinformation. I hope the authorities continue to be vigilant about debunking false claims.
Agreed. In the age of social media, it’s crucial that people approach viral videos and claims with a critical eye and verify the facts before sharing.
This highlights the need for robust fact-checking, especially when it comes to viral videos and claims about military operations. I’m glad the authorities were able to verify that these videos were false and not related to any actual US military action. It’s a good reminder to approach online content with a critical eye and verify the facts before sharing or engaging with it.
It’s concerning to see how easily misinformation can gain traction, even when it involves sensitive military and political matters. I appreciate the efforts of the authorities to investigate and debunk these false viral videos. Fact-checking is crucial to prevent the spread of harmful narratives, especially in the digital age.