Cuba Mourns 32 Citizens Killed in U.S. Operation in Venezuela

Cuba has announced the deaths of 32 of its citizens during a United States military operation in Venezuela that led to the capture of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. The Cuban government declared two days of mourning on January 5 and 6 to honor those killed, with funeral arrangements to be announced.

According to Cuba's state-run Prensa Latina agency, the Cuban personnel were killed while carrying out missions on behalf of the country's military at the request of the Venezuelan government. The agency reported that the deceased "fell in direct combat against the attackers or as a result of the bombing of the facilities" after offering "fierce resistance."

Cuba has been a close ally of Venezuela's government, sending military and police forces to assist in operations in the Latin American country for years.

Following the U.S. operation, Maduro and his wife were flown to New York to face prosecution on drug-related charges. The 63-year-old Venezuelan leader is scheduled to appear in court on Monday. He has previously denied any criminal involvement.

Images of Maduro blindfolded and handcuffed by U.S. forces have stunned Venezuelans. Venezuelan Defense Minister General Vladimir Padrino stated on state television that the U.S. attack killed soldiers, civilians, and a "large part" of Maduro's security detail "in cold blood." He added that Venezuela's armed forces have been activated to guarantee sovereignty.

U.S. President Donald Trump, speaking to reporters on board Air Force One on Sunday, said that "there was a lot of death on the other side" during the raids. He noted that "a lot of Cubans" were killed and that there was "no death on our side."

The U.S. attack on Venezuela marked the most controversial intervention in Latin America since the invasion of Panama 37 years ago. The Trump administration has described Maduro's abduction as a law-enforcement mission to force him to face U.S. criminal charges filed in 2020, including "narco-terrorism" conspiracy.

While many Western nations oppose Maduro, there have been calls for the U.S. to respect international law, and questions have arisen over the legality of seizing a foreign head of state. Left-leaning regional leaders, including those of Brazil, Colombia, Chile, and Mexico, have largely denounced Maduro's ouster, while countries with right-wing governments, from Argentina to Ecuador, have largely welcomed it.

The United Nations Security Council planned to meet on Monday to discuss the attack. Russia and China, both major backers of Venezuela, have criticized the U.S. Beijing insisted on Sunday that the safety of Maduro and his wife be a priority and called on the U.S. to "stop toppling the government of Venezuela," describing the attack as a "clear violation of international law." Moscow also expressed being "extremely concerned" about the capture of Maduro and his wife, condemning what it called an "act of armed aggression" against Venezuela by the U.S.