Cuba says 32 of its nationals were killed during the U.S. military assault on Caracas that led to the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
In a statement read on national television, the Cuban government said the dead were members of the Revolutionary Armed Forces and the Ministry of the Interior who were in Venezuela on official missions “at the request of counterpart agencies.”
Havana described the U.S. action as a “criminal attack” and said the Cubans died either in direct combat with U.S. forces or as a result of American bombing.
Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were extracted from the capital on January 3 and flown out of the country to face drug-trafficking and terrorism charges in New York.
Cuba declared two days of national mourning beginning January 5 and pledged state-organized tributes.
President Miguel Díaz-Canel posted a message honoring the fallen, calling them “brave Cuban fighters” who died resisting “terrorists in imperial uniform.”
