I asked Grok how does Trump kidnapping Maduro help Isreal. Here's its answer

The U.S. military operation on January 3, 2026, which resulted in the reported capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro amid airstrikes and ground actions, has been framed by the Trump administration primarily as a strike against narcoterrorism, drug trafficking, and related crimes. However, the action also carries significant geopolitical implications, particularly in relation to Israel's security interests due to Venezuela's longstanding alliances with Iran and its proxies.

Key Connections Between Venezuela, Iran, and Threats to Israel

• Venezuela as a Platform for Iranian Influence: Under Maduro, Venezuela has served as a key foothold for Iran in Latin America, providing economic and logistical support that bolsters Tehran's regional ambitions. This includes oil-for-weapons deals, joint ventures in resource extraction, and facilitation of Iranian military presence. U.S. officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, have explicitly described Maduro's regime as a "regional platform for Iranian influence," arguing that failing to address it could embolden Iran further. Removing Maduro could disrupt these ties, limiting Iran's ability to project power closer to U.S. borders and, by extension, reducing its capacity to support anti-Israel activities globally.

• Links to Hezbollah and Anti-Israel Networks: Maduro's government has been accused of harboring and enabling Hezbollah, the Iran-backed Lebanese militant group designated as a terrorist organization by Israel and the U.S. Reports dating back to the Chávez era (and continuing under Maduro) highlight Venezuela as a nexus for Hezbollah's operations, including money laundering, drug trafficking, and recruitment in the region. Hezbollah poses a direct threat to Israel through rocket attacks, border skirmishes, and broader proxy warfare. A regime change or weakening of Maduro's network could dismantle these safe havens, indirectly enhancing Israel's security by curtailing funding and operational support for Hezbollah.

• Broader Signaling to Iran: The operation sends a strong message to Iran amid heightened U.S.-Iran tensions, especially following Iran's condemnation of the strikes as a "blatant violation" of sovereignty. Analysts suggest this aligns with a tougher U.S. stance under Trump, potentially deterring Iranian aggression in the Middle East—such as support for Hamas, Houthi rebels in Yemen, or direct threats to Israel. If Maduro's ouster leads to a more U.S.-friendly government in Venezuela, it could also reduce Venezuelan diplomatic and material support for Palestinian causes, which Maduro has championed in opposition to Israel.

Potential Benefits to Israel

• Reduced Proxy Threats: By fracturing the Iran-Venezuela-Hezbollah axis, the action could limit the flow of resources to groups actively hostile to Israel, making it harder for them to sustain operations.
• Strategic Alignment with U.S. Policy: Israel has expressed concerns over the strikes' fallout (e.g., advising its citizens to avoid travel to Venezuela), but the broader weakening of Iran's global network aligns with Israeli priorities. This fits into a pattern where U.S. actions against mutual adversaries, like Iran, provide indirect strategic advantages to Israel without direct involvement.
• Economic and Resource Angles: Venezuela's oil reserves, often traded with Iran to bypass sanctions, could come under more Western-aligned control post-Maduro, potentially stabilizing global energy markets and reducing Iran's sanction-evading capabilities—which in turn lessens economic pressure that could fund anti-Israel activities.

That said, the situation is fluid and unconfirmed in all details, with risks of escalation involving Iran or regional instability. The primary U.S. rationale remains counter-narcotics and regime pressure, but the Israel angle stems from interconnected alliances rather than a direct, stated objective of the operation.