Cuba Confirms 32 Deaths During US Operation That Captured Nicolas Maduro
Cuba announces two days of mourning after confirming 32 citizens died during the US raid that captured Nicolás Maduro.
The Cuban government announced on Sunday, January 5, 2026, that 32 of its citizens were killed during the U.S. military operation that captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, in Caracas on January 3. Havana declared two days of national mourning on January 5 and 6 in honor of the fallen, with funeral arrangements to be announced shortly. The official statement described the deceased as members of Cuba’s armed forces and intelligence agencies who died fulfilling their security and defense duties.
Cuba’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the victims resisted “fiercely” against the attackers, with some falling in direct combat and others perishing due to bombings on facilities they were protecting. Cuba has long provided security assistance to Maduro’s government, including personnel for presidential protection and intelligence support. The exact number of Cuban personnel guarding Maduro at the time of the raid remains unclear, as does whether all casualties occurred at the primary site or across multiple locations targeted during the overnight operation.
The announcement has deepened the international controversy surrounding the U.S. intervention. Cuba condemned the raid as an “act of aggression” and a violation of Venezuela’s sovereignty, calling for an immediate United Nations Security Council meeting. The deaths of the 32 Cubans have intensified criticism from allies of Maduro, including Russia, China, and Iran, who have accused Washington of escalating regional tensions through unilateral action. The Biden administration has not yet commented on the Cuban casualties, while U.S. officials maintain that the operation targeted narco-trafficking networks and was executed with precision.
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Maduro, 63, and his wife, Cilia Flores, were flown to New York following their capture and are being held in a federal detention center. Maduro faces a Monday court appearance on longstanding U.S. charges, including narco-terrorism conspiracy, originally indicted in 2020. He has consistently denied all allegations. The presence of Cuban security personnel in the operation adds a new layer of complexity to the crisis, highlighting Cuba’s deep involvement in Venezuela’s political and military structure over the past decade.
The incident has drawn renewed attention to the long-standing alliance between Havana and Caracas, forged under Hugo Chávez and continued under Maduro. Cuba’s mourning period and the reported heroism of its fallen personnel are likely to strengthen domestic support for Maduro’s cause within Cuba. As the international community awaits further developments, including Maduro’s court proceedings, the deaths of the 32 Cubans have escalated diplomatic tensions and raised questions about the broader consequences of the U.S. action in Latin America.
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