Tragic Loss: 32 Cubans Killed in U.S. Attack on Venezuela

Wed Jan 07 2026 00:35:39 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

The Cuban government reported that 32 of its nationals were killed during a U.S. operation targeting Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, marking a significant escalation in the region's geopolitical tensions.

In a tragic incident, the Cuban government announced that 32 members of its armed forces and intelligence agencies lost their lives during a U.S. operation aimed at capturing Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. Following the raid, which involved airstrikes against Maduro's compound, the Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel declared a two-day national mourning period. Additional implications for U.S.-Cuba relations and reports of rising death tolls from the attack have added gravity to the situation.

The Cuban government has stated that 32 of its nationals were killed during the US operation to capture Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro.

It mentioned that the deceased were members of its armed forces and intelligence agencies, leading to the declaration of two days of national mourning.

A brief statement from the government did not specify the Cubans' role in Venezuela. However, it is known that Cuba has historically provided security support to Maduro in exchange for oil.

Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel indicated that these individuals had been protecting Maduro and his wife at the request of the Venezuelan government.

An official government statement expressed that Our compatriots fulfilled their duty with dignity and heroism and fell, after fierce resistance, in direct combat against the attackers or as a result of bombings on the facilities.

The Venezuelan government has yet to confirm the total number of casualties from the US raid on Maduro's compound on Saturday. According to a report by The New York Times citing an unnamed Venezuelan official, the overall death toll may stand at 80 and could continue to rise.

In the aftermath of Maduro's capture, speculation has emerged regarding the possibility of a similar military action against Cuba, given its long-standing adversarial relationship with the U.S.

U.S. President Donald Trump commented on the situation, suggesting military action against Cuba was unnecessary, indicating that Cuba is ready to fall and expressing confidence in the impending decline of the Cuban regime.

Furthermore, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio criticized the Cuban government as a disaster and remarked on the concerns for those in power in Havana.

In previous developments, Trump had instituted tighter restrictions on Cuba, reversing easing measures proposed by his predecessor Joe Biden, and his administration's prolonged economic embargo on the island nation continues to receive international scrutiny.

The blockade against Cuba, initiated in 1962, remains firmly in place amidst calls for its end by numerous international organizations.