Cuba declared two days of national mourning after 32 of its citizens were killed during a U.S. military operation in Caracas that led to the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife.
The Cuban government announced Sunday that the mourning would take place on January 5 and 6. Funeral arrangements are expected to be released later.
According to Cuba’s state-run Prensa Latina agency, the individuals killed were described as “fighters” carrying out military missions at the request of Venezuela and died either in combat or by bombings of their facilities.
Cuba has long maintained a military and security relationship with Venezuela, providing support to the government.
Maduro, 63, and his wife were flown to New York following the operation and are expected to appear in a U.S. court on Monday on drug-related charges filed in 2020, including conspiracy to commit narco-terrorism.
Images of Maduro blindfolded and handcuffed circulated widely in Venezuela.
Venezuelan Defense Minister Gen. Vladimir Padrino said on state television that the U.S. operation resulted in the deaths of soldiers, civilians, and members of Maduro’s security team, though no official casualty count was provided.
The New York Times, citing a Venezuelan official, reported at least 40 people were killed in the raids.
President Donald Trump told reporters on Air Force One that “a lot of Cubans” were killed but that there were no U.S. casualties. He also said “there was a lot of death on the other side.”
Trump, referencing Colombian President Gustavo Petro, said a military intervention in Colombia “sounded good” to him, but suggested that U.S. action in Cuba was unlikely, claiming the country is economically unstable and “ready to fall.”
The U.S. has framed the operation as a law enforcement action to apprehend Maduro for prosecution, while critics have raised concerns about legality, particularly regarding the forced removal of a sitting head of state.
Governments across Latin America responded along ideological lines. Left-leaning administrations in Brazil, Colombia, Chile, and Mexico criticized the operation. Right-leaning governments in Argentina and Ecuador expressed support.
The United Nations Security Council is scheduled to meet Monday to discuss the incident. China called the operation a “clear violation of international law” and urged the U.S. to ensure Maduro’s safety and stop efforts to remove the Venezuelan government. Russia condemned the action as “an act of armed aggression.”
