"Fulfilling their security and defense responsibilities, they completed their mission with honor and bravery, falling while fiercely resisting and directly engaging attackers after the raid on the protected facility," the Cuban government announced on national television on 4/1, regarding the 32 citizens who died in Venezuela the day before, on 3/1.
According to the statement, all those who died belonged to Cuba's armed forces and intelligence agencies. The statement did not mention the number of security personnel directly protecting Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro at the time of the clash, nor the specific location where the Cuban citizens died.
Havana declared two days of national mourning on 5-6/1 and stated that funeral plans would be announced soon.
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Venezuelan soldiers stand guard near Miraflores presidential palace in Caracas on 3/1. *AP*
Cuba has close ties with Venezuela and has provided security assistance to Maduro for many years. Cuban state television reported that it deployed military officers and security personnel to Venezuela at the request of the Venezuelan government, though the specific nature of their work was not detailed.
In the early hours of 3/1, the US military launched "Operation Absolute Resolve," deploying approximately 150 aircraft from 20 bases to conduct airstrikes on multiple targets. This action facilitated helicopters to transport special forces into the capital Caracas to apprehend Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores.
US President Donald Trump told reporters on Air Force One on 4/1 that "many Cubans died" in the operation, while the US sustained no casualties after the fierce clash where Maduro was captured.
US forces subsequently took Maduro to the US, and he is currently detained in New York, awaiting trial on drug-related charges from 2020.
Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez confirmed that many members of the presidential guard died while clashing with US special forces, though he did not provide a number. An anonymous Venezuelan official revealed the US operation resulted in at least 80 deaths, including civilians and security forces. A US airstrike reportedly hit the Catia La Mar residential area near Caracas airport.
Thanh Danh (According to Reuters, AP)
