Cuba Confirms Death of 32 Military Personnel in U.S. Operation to Capture Maduro
HAVANA, Cuba — Cuba has officially identified 32 members of its armed forces who were killed during a recent U.S. military operation aimed at capturing former Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro. The Cuban government described the incident as a “criminal act of aggression and state terrorism” perpetrated by the United States against Venezuela, a close ally.
In a statement published by Granma, the official newspaper of the Communist Party of Cuba, authorities confirmed that the fallen personnel included colonels, majors, captains, lieutenants, and reserve soldiers, ranging in age from 26 to 60. These individuals were part of the Revolutionary Armed Forces and the Ministry of the Interior, Cuba’s primary security agencies. The government emphasized that the Cuban troops were operating at the request of Venezuelan counterparts, underscoring the close military cooperation between the two nations.
The announcement came shortly after the U.S. military conducted a high-profile operation in Venezuela, resulting in the capture of Maduro. The operation has sparked international controversy and heightened tensions throughout the region. Cuba’s Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez took to social media platform X to denounce the U.S. president’s actions, accusing him of ignorance and repeating what he called “lies of Cuban-American politicians and other groups of interest.” Rodríguez asserted that Cubans remain “prepared to give their lives” in defense against any imperialist aggression.
“Our valiant people, true to their history of struggle, will defend their nation against any imperialist aggression,” Rodríguez wrote, while also criticizing the ongoing economic sanctions imposed by the U.S., which he said have caused “harm and desperation to Cuban families.”
The Cuban government has declared two days of national mourning in honor of the fallen soldiers. The names, ranks, and ages of the deceased were publicly released, though details regarding the exact circumstances of their deaths have not been disclosed.
The Trump administration, which authorized the operation, has previously stated that Cuban officials were involved in supporting Maduro’s regime. The U.S. military presence in the Caribbean has reportedly increased in the wake of the operation, with the U.S. Navy ramping up patrols and surveillance activities.
Meanwhile, the U.S. Department of State has been briefing Congress on the intervention, emphasizing the legal grounds for the operation, which was carried out under a 2020 warrant. The operation has drawn mixed reactions domestically, with some Republicans rallying behind the strike as a legitimate enforcement action, while Democrats have raised concerns about the potential for escalating conflict in the region.
The broader geopolitical implications remain uncertain, as Venezuela’s political future is now in flux and Cuba faces economic challenges exacerbated by its reliance on Venezuelan oil. Cuban immigrants and political observers have highlighted the precarious situation, noting that the capture of Maduro could accelerate instability in both countries.
As the situation develops, international observers continue to monitor the responses from Latin American governments and global powers, with the potential for further diplomatic and military repercussions in the coming weeks.
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