The Cuban government has expressed outrage following the deaths of 32 Cuban citizens during a U.S. raid in Venezuela aimed at apprehending President Nicolas Maduro. The tragic incident occurred on Saturday, prompting Havana to announce two days of national mourning on January 5 and 6. Funeral arrangements for the fallen will be shared in the coming days.
According to the Cuban statement, all those who died were members of Cuba’s armed forces and intelligence services. “True to their responsibilities concerning security and defence, our compatriots fulfilled their duty with dignity and heroism and fell, after fierce resistance, in direct combat against the attackers or as a result of bombings on the facilities,” the statement read.
Cuba has historically provided security support for President Maduro since his rise to power. However, details remain unclear on how many Cuban personnel were directly involved in protecting Maduro or if additional casualties occurred elsewhere.
President Maduro, 63, and his wife Cilia Flores were reportedly captured by U.S. forces in Caracas and transported to the United States. Maduro is currently being held at a New York detention center, awaiting a court appearance on Monday over drug-related charges.
Maduro was indicted by the U.S. in 2020 on multiple charges, including narco-terrorism conspiracy, which he has consistently denied.
This incident marks a tense escalation between the U.S., Cuba, and Venezuela, and underscores the ongoing complexities of international interventions.
