CARACAS – Thirty-two Cuban military personnel and government officials were killed during the U.S. military operation in Venezuela last weekend, Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel confirmed on Monday.
According to reporting by The New York Times, the Cuban nationals were present in Venezuela at the request of the Venezuelan government. Díaz-Canel described the fallen personnel as “heroes,” stating that they died “after fierce resistance, either in direct combat with the attackers or as a result of the bombardments.”
The confirmation follows earlier remarks by U.S. President Donald Trump, who said on Sunday that “many” Cubans had been killed during the operation. Trump claimed the Cuban personnel were attempting to protect Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, who was captured by U.S. forces and taken to the United States. “They tried to protect Maduro, that was not a good move,” Trump said.
The acknowledgment by Havana is being described as unusual. The New York Times noted that it is a rare public admission by the Cuban government that Cuban military personnel were operating inside Venezuela. Cuba and Venezuela have long maintained a close political and strategic alliance, with Cuba providing security, intelligence, and advisory support to the Venezuelan government over the years.
The deaths of Cuban personnel add a new international dimension to the already escalating crisis surrounding Venezuela, raising further concerns about regional stability in Latin America and the Caribbean. Governments in the region and beyond continue to monitor developments closely as diplomatic tensions rise following the U.S. intervention.