The Cuban government confirmed on Sunday that 32 of its citizens were killed during the U.S. military raid in Venezuela that led to the arrest of President Nicolás Maduro, intensifying regional tensions after the high‑profile operation.
In a statement released in Havana, officials said all those killed were members of Cuba’s armed forces and intelligence services.
The government declared January 5 and 6 as national days of mourning, promising to announce funeral arrangements later.
Cuban authorities described the fallen personnel as “dignified and heroic” for dying in combat while carrying out security and defence duties.
They said the raid involved “intense bombardment of facilities” where Cuban operatives were stationed.
Cuba has long provided security and intelligence support to Maduro’s government. However, it remains unclear how many Cuban personnel were directly guarding the Venezuelan leader at the time of the raid and how many were killed elsewhere during the assault.
The incident is one of the deadliest losses Cuba has reported in connection with its involvement in Venezuela. Analysts say the deaths highlight the depth of Havana’s military and intelligence footprint in Caracas.
Maduro, 63, and his wife, Cilia Flores, were seized by U.S. forces in Caracas on Saturday. They were flown to the United States and are now being held at a detention centre in New York.
The Venezuelan leader faces a court appearance on drug‑related charges. He was indicted by U.S. prosecutors in 2020 on counts including narco‑terrorism conspiracy, allegations he has repeatedly denied.
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