Cuba’s government confirmed Sunday that 32 of its military and intelligence personnel were killed during the U.S. military raid in Venezuela over the weekend that resulted in the capture of ousted President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.
The announcement, read on state television, marked the first official casualty count from the allied side in the operation. The deceased were described as fulfilling “security and defense” duties at the Venezuelan government’s request.
“Faithful to their responsibilities for security and defense, 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 the bombings of the facilities,” the statement said.
Cuba, a longtime close ally of the Maduro regime, has provided extensive military, intelligence, and security support to Venezuela for years. U.S. officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, have repeatedly accused Cuban personnel of leading Maduro’s personal protection and internal security forces, effectively “propping up” his government.
“All the guards that help protect Maduro — this is well known — their whole spy agency, all that were full of Cubans,” Rubio said over the weekend.
President Donald Trump, speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One Sunday, referenced the casualties: “You know, a lot of Cubans were killed yesterday. There was a lot of death on the other side. No death on our side.”
Havana declared two days of national mourning on January 5 and 6. Former leader Raúl Castro and President Miguel Díaz-Canel extended condolences to the families of the fallen. Names and specific roles of the deceased were not disclosed.
The U.S. operation Saturday seized Maduro on longstanding narco-terrorism charges, transporting him and his wife to New York for prosecution. While Venezuela has acknowledged deaths from the strikes, it has not released figures.
Rumors of Cuban losses had circulated since the raid, underscoring the deep involvement of Havana in Caracas’ security apparatus.