U.S. forces conducted a targeted January 2026 operation that captured Nicolás Maduro through airstrikes and a special forces raid on his compound, followed by his transfer for U.S. prosecution on narco-terrorism charges. Vice President Delcy Rodríguez assumed the interim role, diplomatic relations were restored by March, sanctions on oil and mining were lifted, and the U.S. embassy in Caracas reopened. As of August 2026, bipartisan Senate resolutions urge elections and prisoner releases while deportation flights resume amid recovery from June earthquakes that killed over 6,000. These steps reflect a shift toward economic leverage and political transition management rather than sustained ground operations or occupation, with officials explicitly distinguishing the prior action from a broader invasion.