Cuba says 32 Cuban officers were killed in US operation in Venezuela

Cuban officials announced Sunday that 32 of their military and police officers were killed during an American military operation in Venezuela over the weekend, marking the first official death toll from the U.S. strikes in the South American nation.

The Cuban government statement, read on state television, indicated that these officers were conducting a mission at the request of Venezuela’s government, though specific details about their activities remain unclear. Cuba has long maintained close military ties with Venezuela, regularly deploying security personnel to assist the Maduro regime.

“Faithful to their responsibilities for security and defense, 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 the bombings of the facilities,” the official Cuban statement declared.

U.S. President Donald Trump acknowledged the Cuban casualties while speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One as he returned to Washington from Florida on Sunday night. “You know, a lot of Cubans were killed yesterday,” Trump stated. “There was a lot of death on the other side. No death on our side.”

The U.S. operation on Saturday led to the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife. American authorities plan to prosecute them on charges related to a narco-terrorism conspiracy, according to an existing indictment.

While Venezuela’s government has confirmed that fatalities occurred during the American strikes, they have not provided official casualty figures to the Associated Press.

The Cuban government announced two days of national mourning for the fallen officers. Former president and revolutionary leader Raúl Castro, along with current President Miguel Díaz-Canel, extended condolences to the families of those killed. Cuban authorities have not yet released the names or ranks of the deceased officers.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, himself the son of Cuban immigrants, highlighted Cuba’s deep involvement in Venezuela’s security apparatus. “All the guards that help protect Maduro — this is well known — their whole spy agency, all that were full of Cubans,” Rubio said. He further asserted that Maduro’s internal security operations were directed by Cubans who were “propping up Maduro.”

The incident underscores the complex web of international relationships in the region. Cuba and Venezuela have maintained strong political and military alliances for decades, with Cuba providing critical security expertise and personnel to the Venezuelan government, particularly after Hugo Chávez came to power in 1999. This relationship intensified under Maduro’s leadership as Venezuela faced increasing international isolation and domestic turmoil.

The U.S. operation represents a dramatic escalation in American policy toward Venezuela, moving from economic sanctions and diplomatic pressure to direct military action resulting in the capture of a sitting head of state. The action has significant implications for regional security and U.S.-Latin American relations.

The confirmed deaths of Cuban personnel add another layer of international complexity to the situation, potentially straining already tense U.S.-Cuba relations that had seen modest improvements during the Obama administration before deteriorating under Trump.

For Cuba, the loss of 32 security personnel marks one of the most significant military losses the island nation has suffered in recent decades, particularly in an operation outside its borders.

The Associated Press contributed reporting from Mexico City and aboard Air Force One.