Cuba said in a statement on Monday (January 5) that at least 32 members of its armed forces and intelligence services were killed in a US military operation to capture Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.
Cuba said that the US Army’s Delta Force captured Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores in a raid on a military base in the capital Caracas late on January 3. At that time, the Cuban soldiers and intelligence officers assigned to Maduro’s security put up fierce resistance, but they were killed in the clash.
Cuba has declared two days of national mourning in honor of the victims. The Cuban government said the victims bravely participated in direct combat against the attackers while on duty.
Venezuela has not yet officially confirmed the total number of deaths in the operation, but the New York Times reported that at least 40 people, including soldiers and civilians, were killed in the operation.
It is worth noting that Cuba has long been a close ally of Venezuela and has had a Cuban military and intelligence presence in Maduro’s security since he came to power.
Source: The Guardian