Havana revealed the identities of the 32 Cuban soldiers killed during the military operation carried out by the United States in Venezuelan territory on January 3, an action that culminated in the capture of President Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores, who were transferred to Nueva York.

The Cuban Ministry of the Revolutionary Armed Forces (MinFar) reported that the soldiers were in Caracas carrying out bilateral cooperation missions, and that they died in combat actions during the attack. Among the deceased were members of the Ministry of the Interior and the Revolutionary Armed Forces, including high-ranking officers and intelligence personnel.

Reaction of the Venezuelan Government

“The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela pays tribute to the 32 Cuban combatants who gave their lives fulfilling their duty (…) as a consequence of the criminal and infamous attack perpetrated by the United States government against Venezuelan territory,” the Venezuelan government stated in a press release.

Venezuelan authorities asserted that the Cuban personnel were acting under cooperation agreements between sovereign states, carrying out institutional protection and defense tasks, and highlighted their bravery, discipline, and commitment to regional stability.

Message from Delcy Rodriguez and solidarity with Cuba

The acting president of Venezuela, Delcy Rodriguez, lamented the deaths of the Cuban military personnel and sent condolences to their families.

“Honor and glory to the 32 Cuban brothers who were murdered during the criminal US military aggression. Fly high, fighters!” said Delcy Rodriguez. Caracas also expressed its gratitude for the support of Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez and General Raul Castro, sending condolences to the families and the Revolutionary Armed Forces.

National Mourning in Cuba

The Cuban government had reported the deaths of the 32 military personnel since Sunday, January 4, and decreed two days of official mourning, with flags at half-mast and the suspension of most public events.

Diaz-Canel explained that the troops were carrying out missions in Caracas at the request of Venezuelan authorities, while the Ministry of the Interior confirmed that among the deceased were military, intelligence, and security personnel.

United States and the Regional Impact

The fall of the Venezuelan government has generated uncertainty in Havana, which maintained a close political, economic, and military alliance with Caracas, based on the exchange of oil for professional and security services. A historic bond under strain

During For years, Cuba officially denied the presence of military personnel protecting foreign leaders, asserting that it only maintained civilian collaborators in Venezuela. However, the publication by the Ministry of the Revolutionary Armed Forces (MinFar) now confirms a direct military presence, reigniting the debate about Havana's role in regional security and the geopolitical impact following the capture of Nicolas Maduro.

List of the 32 Cuban military personnel killed in Venezuela

Military personnel from the Ministry of the Interior

Combatants from the Revolutionary Armed Forces