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The US assert the military operation to capture the South American nation's president required many weeks of careful preparation, but the moment Donald Trump issued the order to commence, "Operation Absolute Resolve" only lasted about two and a half hours.

The unexpected early-morning attack on Saturday signified a historic incident within contemporary international relations and led directly to the arrest of Venezuela's president along with his wife, Cilia Flores.

Apprehended by soldiers from a top-tier US army unit as they tried to flee into a heavily secured panic room, the two are now being held at a holding facility within New York City and face drug trafficking and terrorism indictments.

The Dawn Assault on Fuerte Tiuna

With daybreak on Saturday, the extent of the armed intervention in Caracas, Venezuela's primary city, became apparent.

Images of Fuerte Tiuna, a huge military complex in which top government officials reside, depict bombed out structures as well as charred, smoking cars.

It was at this compound that the president and first lady were apprehended, Venezuelan ruling party leader a party official reported.

Just Moments Before - The President Issues the Command

"Operation Absolute Resolve" commenced with reports of explosions around 2 AM in Caracas (6:00 Greenwich Mean Time).

American forces disabled electricity to the city, the President later described, describing it as "dark and deadly".

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

Our evaluation was that we successfully kept completely the element of surprise", a senior military officer commented.

Targeted sites included the base, a port and an airport. Pictures depict the complex engulfed in flames, with massive fires seen for miles.

Venezuelans have described the way US military helicopters flew at low altitude above the city, heading for Fuerte Tiuna.

Some of the helicopters came under fire, however were still able to fly, military leaders said.

There was significant gunfire," the President noted.

The Rapid On-the-Ground Operation

Once on the ground, troops from an elite special operations unit, acted with speed.

They entered to the compound at 02:01 Caracas time, and the Maduros "gave up" without a struggle, as per reports.

However, further information were provided. The Maduros attempted to flee into a secure location, referred to as a military "fortress".

"The safe place was constructed of steel, and he failed to get inside because our guys were too quick.

"It was a very thick door, a very heavy door," the President told reporters. "He made it to the door. He was unable to close it."

But even if they had succeeded to get into the bunker, troops could have blown it open in about "under a minute."

From the Capital to Manhattan

Currently under American detention, Nicolás Maduro and his wife were moved some 3,400 kilometers, to New York City.

They were flown out of Caracas by helicopter, and transferred to a US warship, a warship stationed in the Caribbean. The team was back in international waters by 04:29.

Aboard the vessel that one of the defining pictures from the entire mission emerged - Maduro in handcuffs, wearing ear protectors and a type of blindfold resembling opaque glasses.

After leaving the ship, his initial stop was at the American naval installation in Cuba.

They then traveled via official aircraft to a military airfield in New York, before a final helicopter transfer into New York City.

Facing Justice in American Soil

That same day, footage emerged showing the detainee inside the federal drug agency's main office in the city.

He and Cilia Flores are presently being held at a federal holding facility in the city.

They have been charged with conspiracy to commit drug-related terrorism and cocaine trafficking, possession of machine guns and destructive devices, and plots to possess machine guns and bombs against the US.

They are set to encounter the full wrath of American justice on American soil within US courtrooms," the Attorney General proclaimed.

Footage documents Maduro's arrival in US and transport into custody.