Havana confirms 32 Cubans died during US military operation in Caracas, declaring two days of national mourning for the fallen soldiers
HAVANA: The Cuban government has confirmed that 32 of its nationals were killed during the US military operation in Venezuela.
The attack culminated in the capture of Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro on Saturday.
“As a result of the criminal attack carried out by the government of the United States against Venezuela, 32 Cubans lost their lives in combat operations,” a government statement read on national television said.
The deceased were members of Cuba’s Revolutionary Armed Forces or the Ministry of the Interior.
Cuban officials stated they were carrying out missions “at the request of counterpart agencies.”
The official statement stressed the soldiers had “fulfilled their duty with dignity and heroism.”
It said they fell “after fierce resistance, in direct combat against the attackers or as a result of the bombings” carried out by the United States.
Havana has declared two days of national mourning beginning at dawn on Monday.
The government pledged to organise tributes for the fallen.
President Miguel Diaz-Canel paid tribute on social media platform X.
“Honor and glory to the brave Cuban fighters who fell facing terrorists in imperial uniform,” he wrote.
In the US operation, Maduro was extracted from Caracas along with his wife Cilia Flores.
He is due to face charges of drug trafficking and terrorism in a New York court on Monday.
