What is the USS Iwo Jima? Ship taking Nicolás Maduro to New York
- - What is the USS Iwo Jima? Ship taking Nicolás Maduro to New York
Jonathan Limehouse, USA TODAY January 4, 2026 at 3:11 AM
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Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro is on his way to New York to face drug trafficking charges following his capture during an overnight military attack by the United States, and he'll arrive to America aboard the USS Iwo Jima, an amphibious assault ship.
According to an X post by U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, Maduro "has been charged with Narco-Terrorism Conspiracy, Cocaine Importation Conspiracy, Possession of Machineguns and Destructive Devices, and Conspiracy to Possess Machineguns and Destructive Devices against the United States." The Venezuelan president was captured alongside his wife, Cilia Flores, in Caracas, Venezuela, and flown by helicopter to the USS Iwo Jima.
President Donald Trump shared a picture of a blindfolded Maduro aboard the warship on Truth Social.
“The word integration does not explain the sheer complexity of such a mission, an extraction so precise it involved more than 150 aircraft launching across the Western Hemisphere in close coordination,” Gen. Dan “Razin” Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said about the complex raid. “Failure of one component of this well-oiled machine would have endangered the entire mission, and failure is never an option for America’s joint force.”
As Maduro and U.S. forces make their way to New York, here is what to know about the ship they're aboard.
United States' bombing of Venezuela and capture of the country's president Nicolás Maduro ranged across the world. Some celebrated the operation while others rebuked Trump's intervention in the South American country. See the reactions in photos, beginning here with Venezuelans living in Chile celebrating in Santiago on January 3, 2026.
" style=padding-bottom:56%>Reactions to the United States' bombing of Venezuela and capture of the country's president Nicolás Maduro ranged across the world. Some celebrated the operation while others rebuked Trump's intervention in the South American country. See the reactions in photos, beginning here with Venezuelans living in Chile celebrating in Santiago on January 3, 2026.
" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/ZAmGlv8wPGc_G5r.qQeCEg--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/33b8c12c91bcd4e9c864a46797dc9d4e class=caas-img data-headline="See reactions after US explosions in Venezuela, Maduro capture" data-caption="
Reactions to the United States' bombing of Venezuela and capture of the country's president Nicolás Maduro ranged across the world. Some celebrated the operation while others rebuked Trump's intervention in the South American country. See the reactions in photos, beginning here with Venezuelans living in Chile celebrating in Santiago on January 3, 2026.
">Reactions to the United States' bombing of Venezuela and capture of the country's president Nicolás Maduro ranged across the world. Some celebrated the operation while others rebuked Trump's intervention in the South American country. See the reactions in photos, beginning here with Venezuelans living in Chile celebrating in Santiago on January 3, 2026.
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1 / 21See reactions after US explosions in Venezuela, Maduro capture
Reactions to the United States' bombing of Venezuela and capture of the country's president Nicolás Maduro ranged across the world. Some celebrated the operation while others rebuked Trump's intervention in the South American country. See the reactions in photos, beginning here with Venezuelans living in Chile celebrating in Santiago on January 3, 2026.
What is the USS Iwo Jima?
The current version of the ship, the USS Iwo Jima (LHD-7), is its third iteration. The vessel measures 840 feet in length with a flight deck width of 140 feet, according to US Carriers.net. The LHD-7 edition of the amphibious assault ship was commissioned in 2001 and remains in active service, capable of launching aircraft and landing Marines, according to the Naval History and Heritage Command (NHHC).
The ship carries helicopters and a detachment of Marines, or Marines permanently embarked on large warships, for use in the Navy's newest "vertical envelopment" concept of amphibious operations, per the NHHC.
The second iteration of the vessel, the USS Iwo Jima (LPH-2), served from 1961 to 1993 and was the "first ship to be designed and built from the keel up as an amphibious assault ship," per the U.S. carrier database.
The homeport of the USS Iwo Jima LHD-7 is in Norfolk, Virginia, according to the US Carriers.net.
The USS Iwo Jima (LHD-7) sails off coast Arroyo, Puerto Rico, September 22, 2025.Why was the USS Iwo Jima created?
The original ship, the USS Iwo Jima (CV-46), never saw service as it was canceled during its construction in 1945, according to the NHHC.
The USS Iwo Jima (LPH-2) went on to serve as the mobile base for troops and helicopters, as forces participated in nuclear tests, the Vietnam War and various crisis evacuations. The ship was also a primary casualty receiving ship, a hospital ship and a key asset in Cold War deployments and conflicts, including the Cuban Missile Crisis and the Gulf War, according to the NHHC and the USS Iwo Jima Class Association.
While in service, the USS Iwo Jima (LPH-2) measured at an overall length of 598 feet and had a flight deck width of 104 feet, according to the association.
What is the difference between the USS Iwo Jima LPH-2, LHD-7
Aside from the difference in size, the two ships primarily contrast in their armament.
According to US Carriers.net, the LHD-7 carries substantially more weapons, including missile launchers, three MK-38 25mm machine gun systems with four .50 caliber machine guns, two NATO Sea Sparrow launchers and two MK-15 20mm Phalanx Close-In Weapon Systems (CIWS), which are radar-guided, automated 20mm Gatling guns.
The LPH2 had two twin-mounted 3"50 cannons, 2 basic point defense surface-to-air missile systems and two 20mm Phalanx (CIWS).
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: What is the USS Iwo Jima? Ship taking Nicolás Maduro to New York
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