WASHINGTON — A dramatic and unverified account alleging the use of a futuristic “sonic weapon” by U.S. forces during the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has ignited a firestorm of debate, fueled by a high-profile repost from the White House.
The controversy centers on the January 3 military operation, dubbed “Operation Absolute Resolve,” in which U.S. forces successfully raided a compound in Caracas, capturing Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. While the operation was hailed as a tactical success by the Trump administration—resulting in no U.S. casualties—questions are mounting regarding the methods used to incapacitate Venezuelan defenders.
The Allegations
The debate intensified Saturday after White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt reposted a viral testimony attributed to a Venezuelan security guard who survived the raid. The graphic account describes a “very intense sound wave” that allegedly neutralized hundreds of soldiers within minutes.
“Suddenly, I felt like my head was exploding from the inside,” the guard is quoted as saying. “We all started bleeding from the nose. Some were vomiting blood. We fell to the ground, unable to move.”
The witness claimed that despite being outnumbered, the small U.S. force faced no effective resistance because the “mystery weapon” rendered the Venezuelan troops physically helpless. The guard described the scene as a “massacre,” with the Venezuelan Interior Ministry later claiming approximately 100 security personnel were killed during the operation.
White House Amplification
The claims gained significant traction when Leavitt shared the account on X (formerly Twitter) with the caption, “Stop what you are doing and read this,” accompanied by American flag emojis.
While the White House has not officially confirmed the use of directed-energy or sonic weapons, the Press Secretary’s repost has been interpreted by some as a tacit acknowledgement of the U.S. military’s superior technological capabilities. This ambiguity has led to widespread speculation about whether the U.S. has deployed a new class of non-lethal—yet physically devastating—warfare technology.
Scientific Feasibility
Defense experts are divided on the plausibility of the claims. Directed-energy weapons (DEWs) and acoustic devices have long been in development, primarily for crowd control (such as Long Range Acoustic Devices, or LRADs) or for disabling electronics. However, the symptoms described in the viral account—internal hemorrhaging and vomiting blood—suggest a level of power far exceeding known non-lethal systems.
Some analysts point to “shockwave generators” capable of creating rapid barotrauma (pressure injuries) similar to those described by the guard. Others remain skeptical, suggesting the account could be exaggerated or propaganda intended to portray the U.S. force as using inhumane tactics.
The allegations also draw an ironic parallel to “Havana Syndrome,” a mysterious set of symptoms including dizziness and headaches reported by U.S. diplomats in Cuba and elsewhere, which was long suspected to be the result of a foreign sonic attack.
Operational Context
The raid itself marks a historic shift in U.S. policy. According to President Trump, the operation was executed by elite Delta Force commandos with extensive air support. Maduro is currently being held in New York to face narco-terrorism charges.
As the international community digests the geopolitical fallout of Maduro’s capture, the mystery of the “sonic weapon” remains unsolved. Without official declassification or independent verification, the claims sit at the murky intersection of modern warfare, psychological operations, and technological rumor.
