Havana: Cuba reported on Sunday that 32 of its combatants were killed in a US military operation described by Washington as a 'large-scale strike,' leading to the capture of Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro. Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel declared January 5 and 6 as national days of mourning to honor the fallen combatants. He emphasized that they carried out their duties with honor and demonstrated Cuba's long-standing spirit of international solidarity.
According to Anadolu Agency - English, the Cuban government stated that the combatants were on official missions representing the Revolutionary Armed Forces and the Ministry of the Interior. They were deployed at the request of Venezuelan authorities as part of bilateral cooperation. Venezuela also paid tribute to the fallen, honoring the 32 Cuban combatants for their service in the context of cooperation and defense missions.
US President Donald Trump announced that a significant number of Cuban security personnel assigned to protect Maduro were killed during the Saturday raid. Following the operation, Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were taken to New York and are currently held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn. US authorities have charged the couple with federal offenses related to drug trafficking and alleged cooperation with gangs designated as terrorist organizations.
Maduro has rejected these allegations, while Venezuelan officials have called for the immediate release of the couple. They described the operation as illegal and a violation of Venezuela's sovereignty.