Covert US Team Rescued Venezuela's Top Opposition Leader

A veteran special forces soldier has described a "dangerous" covert mission to rescue Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado. Bryan Stern, leader of the extraction team, revealed details on the "Brian Kilmeade Show." The operation successfully removed Machado from hiding inside Venezuela. Machado is a prominent critic of President Nicolás Maduro's government. She was widely seen as the strongest candidate to challenge him in elections. Stern, a special forces veteran, called the mission high-risk. His private team specializes in international rescue and recovery operations. The extraction highlights the perilous situation for Venezuelan opposition figures. Many face arrest, exile, or imprisonment by the state. No further details of the mission's timing or methods were disclosed. The operation underscores ongoing political tensions in Venezuela.