Rare Sentinel Deployment Backs Elite Commandos in High-Risk Operation
The US Air Force’s RQ-170 Sentinel stealth unmanned aircraft played a supporting role in the dramatic US military operation that resulted in the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro on January 3, 2026. The mission, dubbed Operation Absolute Resolve, involved a broad coalition of US military assets, including over 150 aircraft, in support of elite Army Delta Force commandos. According to General Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the operation was the culmination of months of intelligence preparation. The RQ-170’s involvement was reported by AeroTime.