HAVANA, Jan 4 (GeokHub) — Cuba said on Sunday that 32 of its citizens were killed during the U.S. military operation in Venezuela that resulted in the capture of President Nicolas Maduro and his transfer to the United States to face criminal charges.
In a statement, the Cuban government announced two days of national mourning on January 5 and 6 to honor those killed, adding that funeral arrangements would be disclosed later.
Havana provided few operational details but said all those who died were members of Cuba’s armed forces and intelligence services. According to the statement, the personnel were engaged in security and defense duties and were killed either during direct combat with U.S. forces or in air and missile strikes on facilities during the raid.
“True to their responsibilities concerning security and defense, our compatriots fulfilled their duty with dignity and heroism,” the statement said, describing the deaths as occurring after “fierce resistance.”
Cuban Presence in Venezuela
Cuba has long been a close ally of Venezuela and has provided security and intelligence support to Maduro since he assumed power. It remains unclear how many Cuban personnel were directly assigned to protect Maduro at the time of the operation, or whether others were stationed at military or intelligence facilities targeted during the assault.
Maduro, 63, and his wife, Cilia Flores, were seized by U.S. forces in Caracas early Saturday following coordinated strikes on Venezuelan military sites. They were flown to the United States, where Maduro is now being held in a New York detention facility ahead of an expected court appearance on Monday.
The Venezuelan leader was indicted by U.S. authorities in 2020 on charges including narco-terrorism conspiracy, allegations he has consistently denied.
Rising International Fallout
Cuba’s announcement adds to mounting international fallout from the operation, which has drawn sharp criticism from several governments and renewed debate over the legality of seizing a sitting foreign leader through military force.
The United Nations Security Council is expected to discuss the situation as concerns grow over regional stability and the broader implications of the U.S. intervention in Venezuela.
