July 2024
July 28, 2024
Stolen Election
Venezuela holds presidential election. Opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez wins by landslide according to tally sheets. Government announces Maduro "won." Protests erupt immediately.
Escalation
July 29, 2024
Protests and Crackdown Begin
Cacerolazos (pot-banging protests) across Caracas. Regime responds with mass arrests. Over 2,400 arrested in following weeks.
Escalation
July 29-August 2, 2024
Student Massacre
Regime security forces and colectivos open fire on student protesters. At least 25 killed in first days, many teenagers. Bodies found with gunshot wounds to head and chest. Witnesses report executions. Total death toll reaches 28+ with 200+ injured. UN and human rights groups condemn "extrajudicial killings."
Escalation
August 2024
August 2024
Machado Goes Into Hiding
After threats to her life, Maria Corina Machado goes underground. Refuses to leave Venezuela. Inter-American Commission on Human Rights condemns regime's "state terrorism."
Intel
September 2024
September 7, 2024
Edmundo González Flees to Spain
Opposition candidate Edmundo González Urrutia flees Venezuela after arrest warrant issued. Spanish government grants asylum. Maduro regime claims "victory" but international community recognizes González as legitimate president-elect.
Escalation
Intel
September 2024
International Recognition Grows
Multiple countries recognize González as president-elect. US, EU, and Latin American democracies refuse to acknowledge Maduro's fraudulent victory. Regime becomes increasingly isolated.
Intel
November 2024
November 5, 2024
Trump Wins US Election
Donald Trump wins US presidential election. Signals harder line on Venezuela during campaign.
Intel
January 2025
January 10, 2025
Maduro Inaugurated / Machado Detained
Maduro sworn in for fraudulent third term. Maria Corina Machado emerges from hiding to lead massive protest in Caracas. Security forces intercept her convoy after rally. Gunfire reported. Brief detention.
Escalation
January 20, 2025
Trump Inaugurated - New US Policy
Donald Trump sworn in as 47th US President. Immediately signals hardline Venezuela policy. Appoints Marco Rubio as Secretary of State - known hawk on Maduro regime.
Intel
February-August 2025
Spring/Summer 2025
Pressure Campaign Builds
Trump administration ratchets up sanctions. Naval assets repositioned to Caribbean. Intelligence operations intensify. Maduro regime increasingly isolated.
Intel
September 2025
Early September 2025
Maritime Strikes Begin
US military begins executing airstrikes on vessels in the Caribbean Sea. Operations positioned as counter-narcotics missions.
Military
October 2025
October 10, 2025
Machado Wins Nobel Peace Prize
Maria Corina Machado awarded Nobel Peace Prize "for her tireless work promoting democratic rights" and struggle for peaceful transition from dictatorship. Still in hiding inside Venezuela.
Intel
October 2025
Strikes Expand to Pacific
US operations expand beyond Caribbean to Eastern Pacific Ocean. Casualty count rises.
Military
Escalation
November 2025
November 2025
SAIME "Modernization"
Venezuela's SAIME announces new web portal launch. Preparation for December database merger.
Surveillance
November 14, 2025
Operation Southern Spear
15,000 US troops deployed to Caribbean. USS Gerald Ford aircraft carrier positioned near Venezuela.
Military
November 21, 2025
Trump-Maduro Phone Call
Trump calls Maduro directly, gives ultimatum: leave Venezuela by Friday or face consequences. Trump tells Maduro he will keep "blowing up" boats. Maduro refuses, demands global amnesty.
Escalation
December 2025
December 5, 2025
"Pandora's Box" Warning
Al Jazeera publishes: "What happens if the US attacks Venezuela?"
Intel
December 10-11, 2025
Machado Escapes to Oslo
Maria Corina Machado dramatically escapes Venezuela after months in hiding. Arrives in Oslo to accept Nobel Peace Prize. Greets supporters from hotel balcony. Taunts Maduro regime from safety.
Intel
December 10, 2025
Tanker #1 Seized: Skipper
US seizes oil tanker Skipper off Venezuelan coast. 1.8 million barrels of crude. Boarded by Coast Guard, Marines, and special forces from USS Gerald Ford. Tanker was sanctioned for ties to IRGC/Hezbollah.
Military
Escalation
December 17, 2025
Naval Blockade Begins
Trump announces "total and complete blockade" of sanctioned tankers. Venezuelan airspace declared "closed in its entirety." Largest armada ever assembled in South America.
Military
Escalation
December 18, 2025
Pacific Attack - 4 Killed
US strikes in Pacific Ocean kill 4 people. Death toll approaches 100.
Military
Escalation
December 20, 2025
Tanker #2 Seized: Centuries
US seizes second tanker Centuries - NOT on any sanctions list. Demonstrates expanded scope of blockade operations beyond sanctioned vessels.
Military
Escalation
December 21, 2025
Bella 1 Chase
Tanker Bella 1 resists Coast Guard boarding, makes dramatic U-turn attempting to flee. High-speed pursuit in Caribbean waters. Eventually captured - becomes Tanker #3.
Military
Escalation
December 22, 2025
Trump's Final Warning
At Mar-a-Lago with Rubio and Hegseth, Trump warns Maduro: "If he plays tough, it'll be the last time he's ever able to play tough." Says he doesn't rule out war.
Escalation
December 23, 2025
UN Security Council Emergency Session
Venezuela calls emergency UN meeting. Ambassador Moncada accuses US of "greatest extortion in history" and warns of US "continental ambitions." Russia and China back Venezuela.
Intel
December 24, 2025
Christmas Eve Strike - First Land Attack
CIA drone strike hits port facility on Venezuelan coast. Target: dock allegedly used by Tren de Aragua gang. First US attack on Venezuelan soil.
Military
Escalation
December 24-26, 2025
"La Boveda de Cristal" Activated
Maduro regime secretly merges SAIME + Banks + Patria into "Crystal Vault" system. Creates single control dashboard to disable any citizen's identity instantly. Includes IMEI/GPS tracking on all bank transactions.
Surveillance
Escalation
December 26, 2025
Crystal Vault Exposed
Journalist Milagros Socorro (La Gran Aldea) publishes investigation exposing the Christmas database merger. 40,000+ engagement on Instagram.
Surveillance
December 27, 2025
Hezbollah-Venezuela Connection Intel
OSINT analysis reveals Margarita Island network connecting Alex Saab, Hezbollah operatives, and Iranian interests. GPS metadata from government phones shows regime staff travel to Spain and Uzbekistan.
Intel
Surveillance
December 26, 2025
Trump Reveals Strike
Trump calls WABC radio: "We knocked out a big facility where the ships come from. We hit them very hard."
Intel
December 29, 2025
CNN Confirms CIA Strike
CNN exclusive confirms CIA drone strike on Venezuelan port facility.
Intel
December 30, 2025
Pacific Strikes Continue
US missiles kill 2 more in Pacific. Database centralization exposed. Total: 107+ killed in 30 strikes since September. Crystal Vault documentation project launched.
Military
Surveillance
December 31, 2025
New Year's Eve - Blockade Holds
Naval blockade enters third week. No tankers breach the cordon. Regime oil exports effectively frozen. International observers warn of humanitarian implications.
Military
January 2026
January 1, 2026
Current Situation
New Year begins with Venezuela under unprecedented military and economic pressure. Crystal Vault surveillance system operational. Machado safe in Oslo. González in Spain. Maduro regime isolated but defiant. 107+ killed in US operations. 3 tankers seized. 15,000 US troops in theater.
Military
Surveillance
Escalation