It was supposed to be some iron dome to fend off American air capabilities. Venezuela’s layered air defense was supposedly going to protect it from the US Air Force. It did absolutely nothing. Most of it was Russian-made junk, apparently. American air and ground forces attacked the Latin American nation with impunity. Our air assets pummeled Caracas from the air, while our Delta Force operatives were able to rush in and snatch Nicolas Maduro and his wife. They’re now in the United States, where the former Venezuelan president faces a slew of charges, including narco-trafficking.
Next time, buy American. https://t.co/XAR55GDEwM
— Jim Geraghty (@jimgeraghty) January 3, 2026
Looks like a Buk-M2E was completely destroyed at Generalissimo Francisco de Miranda Air Base. https://t.co/ISPLXxTo8y pic.twitter.com/IdoPx80TiM
— SA Defensa (@SA_Defensa) January 3, 2026
🤣 https://t.co/OShrcXqgGg pic.twitter.com/1NmdSFme9T
— Rock - NAFO Raccoon (@NAFORaccoon) January 3, 2026
“Experts had warned that Venezuela's layered air-defence network could complicate US air operations”
— Sunny (@sunnyright) January 3, 2026
Lockheed Martin: https://t.co/Pl4LBFR0BO pic.twitter.com/4vvAA8mjwM
Narrator: "No, they could not" https://t.co/eN5oTKgMYl
— Darth Putin (@DarthPutinKGB) January 3, 2026
Still, the memes about Venezuela's Temu air defenses were epic:
Russian air defense in Venezuela pic.twitter.com/wufH0TByPv
— Saint Javelin (@saintjavelin) January 3, 2026
Live shot: Russian air defenses protecting Caracas.
— Jay in Kyiv (@JayinKyiv) January 3, 2026
pic.twitter.com/C9Wq1YMEQ4
El ejército Venezolano defendiendo el ataque: pic.twitter.com/ozpOUx3Ath
— Andrés Bautista 🎩 (@AndresBV_9) January 3, 2026
Join the conversation as a VIP Member