{"id":2529066,"date":"2026-01-03T12:20:02","date_gmt":"2026-01-03T17:20:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/maduro-abduction-coincides-with-anniversary-of-noriega-raid-in-panama\/"},"modified":"2026-01-03T12:21:17","modified_gmt":"2026-01-03T17:21:17","slug":"maduro-abduction-coincides-with-anniversary-of-noriega-raid-in-panama","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/maduro-abduction-coincides-with-anniversary-of-noriega-raid-in-panama\/","title":{"rendered":"Maduro abduction coincides with anniversary of Noriega raid in Panama"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">20<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fmaduro-abduction-coincides-with-anniversary-of-noriega-raid-in-panama%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2529066&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The Trump governance announced that U.S. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trump-says-maduro-captured-after-military-operation-in-caracas\/\" title=\"... says ... &#039;...&#039; after ... in ...\">special forces carried<\/a> out an operation that captured Venezuelan President Nicol\u00e1s Maduro, an action timed to coincide with the anniversary of the 1990 U.S.raid that deposed Panamanian strongman Manuel Noriega. Officials said Delta Force led strikes on key military and government targets in Caracas in the early hours,with helicopters &#8211; including a CH-47 Chinook &#8211; inserting personnel; the operation reportedly lasted about an hour and U.S. officials said there were no American casualties. Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, face indictments in the southern District of New York on <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >charges including narco-terrorism<\/a>, cocaine importation, and weapons offenses, and U.S. leaders touted bringing them to American courts. The date and rhetoric echo comparisons the White House has long made between Maduro and Noriega; Noriega was toppled after a large U.S. invasion in 1989-90,later tried abroad,returned to Panama to serve a long sentence,and died in 2017. International reaction was mixed, with some leaders and Republicans praising the action while Democrats and others raised legal and legitimacy concerns.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Maduro abduction coincides with anniversary of Noriega raid in Panama<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2462359\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\">Donald Trump<\/a>&lsquo;s administration apprehended Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on the anniversary of another U.S. raid against a South American strongman with striking parallels.<\/p>\n<p>Trump announced Saturday morning that a special forces military operation &ldquo;successfully carried out a large scale strike against Venezuela [&hellip;] done in conjunction with U.S. Law Enforcement&rdquo; &mdash; culminating in the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/4400169\/what-to-know-about-the-u-s-strikes-on-venezuela-and-maduros-fall\/\">arrest of the dictator<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/4400612\/world-leaders-react-to-us-attack-in-venezuela\/\">World leaders react to US attack in Venezuela<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4400184\/watch-live-trump-maduro-mar-a-lago-press-conference\/\">WATCH LIVE: Trump talks toppling &#8216;dictator&#8217; Maduro at Mar-a-Lago press conference<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/4400107\/maduro-accuses-us-striking-caracas-venezuela-bombing\/\">Venezuela declares state of emergency after US operation in Caracas<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4400178\/trump-hails-success-of-fantastic-maduro-mission\/\">TRUMP HAILS SUCCESS OF &lsquo;FANTASTIC&rsquo; MADURO MISSION: &lsquo;I&rsquo;VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT&rsquo;<\/a><\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Thirty-six years ago to the day, the U.S. military invaded and abducted the acting leader of <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/panama\/\">Panama<\/a>, military strongman General Manuel Noriega.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">In this Jan. 4, 1990 file photo, Manuel Noriega watches as U.S. Drug Enforcement Agents place chains around his waist aboard a C-130 transport plane. Former Panamanian dictator Noriega died late Monday, May 29, 2017, at age 83. Panamanian President Juan Carlos Varela wrote in his Twitter account that &ldquo;the death of Manuel A. Noriega closes a chapter in our history.&rdquo; (AP Photo, File)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/restoring-america\/courage-strength-optimism\/3891665\/venezuela-is-a-harder-nut-to-crack-than-noriegas-panama\/\">Noriega<\/a>, a militaristic dictator who grew immensely powerful and wealthy in the region through narco-trafficking and arms dealing, was deposed by the George H.W. Bush administration in 1990.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/4400612\/world-leaders-react-to-us-attack-in-venezuela\/\">WORLD LEADERS REACT TO US ATTACK IN VENEZUELA<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Approximately 24,000 troops descended upon Panama in December 1989, beginning a weekslong siege of the country that scattered the government and military officials.<\/p>\n<p>Noriega was eventually forced to take shelter in the Holy See&rsquo;s apostolic nunciature to Panama, where U.S. forces surrounded the perimeter and demanded his surrender. He offered himself without a further fight on Jan. 3.<\/p>\n<p>The parallel dates were almost certainly a conscious decision by the White House, which has repeatedly compared Maduro to Noriega in statements leading up to the operation on Saturday.<\/p>\n<p>Compared to Noriega, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/nicolas-maduro\/\">Maduro&rsquo;s<\/a> downfall happened in fast-forward. <\/p>\n<p>The Army&rsquo;s most elite unit, Delta Force, carried out the unprecedented operation, officials told CBS. Strikes against critical military and governmental targets were documented as early as 2 a.m. local time.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4400179\/republicans-rally-around-trump-maduro-capture-democrats-cry-foul\/\">REPUBLICANS RALLY AROUND TRUMP AFTER MADURO CAPTURE AS DEMOCRATS CRY FOUL OVER ITS LEGALITY<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>At the same time, U.S. helicopters entered the airspace over Caracas, including a CH-47 Chinook believed to have transported the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/we-will-keep-going-as-long-as-we-can-former-special-forces-operator-describes-ongoing-afghanistan-evacuation-mission\/\" title=\"\u2018We Will Keep Going As Long As We Can\u2019: Former Special Forces Operator Describes Ongoing Afghanistan Evacuation Mission\">special forces personnel<\/a> who captured Maduro. <\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">FILE &ndash; Venezuela&rsquo;s President Nicolas Maduro, then Constituent National Assembly President Delcy Rodriguez, left, and first lady Cilia Flores, wave as they arrive to the National Assembly, in Caracas, Venezuela, May 24, 2018. (AP Photo\/Ariana Cubillos, File)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The entire operation is believed to have lasted approximately one hour, and Trump stated he believes no U.S. servicemen were lost.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/4400169\/what-to-know-about-the-u-s-strikes-on-venezuela-and-maduros-fall\/\">WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT THE US STRIKES ON VENEZUELA AND MADURO&rsquo;S FALL<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>It remains to be seen how Maduro will fare in the U.S. courts compared to his <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/opinion\/292753\/trump-should-oust-maduro-like-bush-ousted-noriega\/\">Panamanian forbearer<\/a>. He and his wife, Cilia Flores, are being indicted in the Southern District of New York.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Nicolas Maduro has been charged with Narco-Terrorism Conspiracy, Cocaine Importation Conspiracy, Possession of Machineguns and Destructive Devices, and Conspiracy to Possess Machineguns and Destructive Devices against the United States,&rdquo; Attorney General Pamela Bondi announced on Saturday via social media. &ldquo;They will soon face the full wrath of American justice on American soil in American courts.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Noriega fought fiercely in U.S. courts to have himself categorized as a prisoner of war instead of as a normal criminal. He was eventually deemed a prisoner of war, which granted him certain privileges while in U.S. custody.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4400115\/maduro-captured-taken-venezuela-us-military-operation-caracas-trump\/\">MADURO &lsquo;CAPTURED&rsquo; AND TAKEN OUT OF VENEZUELA AFTER US MILITARY OPERATION IN CARACAS: TRUMP<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Venezuelans celebrate in Madrid after U.S. President Donald Trump announced that Venezuelan President Nicol&aacute;s Maduro had been captured and flown out of the country on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026. (AP Photo\/Bernat Armangue)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>He spent 20 years in American prison before being <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/france\/\">extradited to France<\/a> to serve seven years on a money-laundering charge. From there, he was repatriated to Panama to serve a 60-year prison sentence for the violence, corruption, and organized crime carried out during his dictatorship. <\/p>\n<p>Noriega died in 2017 from complications during a surgery to remove a benign brain tumor.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Maduro arrest marks Noriega raid anniversary<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3468,"featured_media":2529067,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/AP17066798984964.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[47216,36612,70042],"class_list":["post-2529066","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-abduction","tag-maduro","tag-noriega"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/AP17066798984964.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2529066","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3468"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2529066"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2529066\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2529070,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2529066\/revisions\/2529070"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2529067"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2529066"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2529066"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2529066"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}