The Cuban government has announced that 32 Cuban nationals were killed during a U.S. attack on Caracas that led to the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
In a statement read on state television on Sunday, January 4, Havana said the deaths occurred during what it described as a “criminal attack” carried out by the United States against Venezuela. According to the statement, the victims were members of Cuba’s Revolutionary Armed Forces and the Ministry of the Interior who were deployed on official missions at the request of Venezuelan counterpart agencies.
The announcement followed a dramatic U.S. military operation on Saturday, January 3, in which Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were removed from Caracas and taken to the United States to face charges of drug trafficking and terrorism in a New York court on Monday.
Cuban authorities said the fallen personnel “carried out their duty with dignity and heroism,” adding that they died after resisting the attack or as a result of U.S. bombardments.
In response, the Cuban government declared two days of national mourning beginning at dawn on Monday, January 5, and said tributes would be organised in their honour.
President Miguel Díaz-Canel paid tribute to the deceased in a post on X, writing: “Honor and glory to the brave Cuban fighters who fell facing terrorists in imperial uniform.”
