America's Most Elite Special Force, The Delta Force: Most Failed and Most Successful Missions

Two missions are particularly significant in the history of America's most elite special forces, the Delta Force: one in 1993, the Somalia operation (known as Black Hawk Down), and the other, more recently, "Operation Absolute Resolve" in Venezuela in January 2026.

What are the facts behind the failure in Somalia and the success in Venezuela?

Delta Force: Failure in Somalia vs. Success in Venezuela

1. Somalia (1993): Causes of "Black Hawk Down"
This operation in the Somali city of Mogadishu is considered one of the greatest military failures in American history. Some of the main reasons for this were:

Lack of intelligence: American forces did not have a proper understanding of the streets of Mogadishu and the local tribal network there.

Underestimating the enemy: The American commandos thought that the Somali militia only knew how to fight with old weapons, but they shot down American Black Hawk helicopters with RPGs.

Daylight attack: This operation was carried out during the day, which gave the enemy a good opportunity to see the movement of forces and retaliate.

Lack of heavy weapons: The then US government had rejected requests for air support (AC-130 Gunships) and armored vehicles, which made it difficult to reach the trapped soldiers.

2. Venezuela (2026): The success of "Operation Absolute Resolve."
The recent operation to capture President Nicolas Maduro in Venezuela is being described as a major military success. The factors behind its success were:

Advanced technology and cyber warfare: The entire city's electricity was cut off before the attack, and Venezuela's air defense system was disabled through cyber attacks and jamming.

Massive air support: Unlike Somalia, this time, more than 150 aircraft (including F-35s, bombers, and drones) were supporting Delta Force.

Intelligence (CIA): The CIA monitored Maduro's movements, his house maps, and security protocols for months, which gave Delta Force precise knowledge of the target.

Surprise attack: The attack was carried out very quietly and quickly in the dark of night, giving the Venezuelan guards no chance to react.

The main reasons for the failure in Somalia were political interference in the planning and miscalculation of the enemy's strength. While in Venezuela, Delta Force, learning from past mistakes, used complete air superiority and cyber attacks, which left the enemy unable to respond.