Image Credentials: Image Title: 32 Cuban Combatants Killed During US Intervention in Venezuela, Havana Says Source: (sora.openai) Date: January 2026. Attribution: This image was created using AI-generated imagery (sora.openai) and does not depict a real-world scene.
By Open Chronicle News Desk with Agencies
Havana has announced that 32 Cuban combatants were killed during a United States military operation in Venezuela that resulted in the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, marking one of the most serious confrontations between Cuba and Washington in decades.
Cuban President Miguel Díaz Canel declared Sunday that January 5 and 6 would be observed as national days of mourning, paying tribute to those killed in what Havana described as an act of international solidarity carried out under official orders.
“They fulfilled their duty with honour and demonstrated fierce resistance,” Díaz Canel said in a televised address, adding that their actions reflected Cuba’s long-standing commitment to supporting allied nations.
Recordar es como volver a vivir
Así nos mentía descaradamente el Gobierno Revolucionario
Hoy se aparecen que 32 agentes cubanos murieron en combates con EEUU en el anillo de seguridad de Maduro
Cuántos más habrán en todas las áreas y zonas venezolanas
Mentirosos pic.twitter.com/G7rloDSTWL
— MartiesUnidad (@Catv20171) January 5, 2026
According to a statement released by the Cuban government, the combatants were members of the Revolutionary Armed Forces and the Ministry of the Interior. They had been deployed to Venezuela at the request of Caracas as part of bilateral cooperation agreements, providing security and defence assistance to the Maduro government.
The deaths occurred during what US officials described as a large-scale strike carried out late Saturday. The operation culminated in the capture of Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, who were flown to New York and placed in custody at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn.
US President Donald Trump confirmed that a significant number of Cuban security personnel assigned to protect Maduro were killed during the raid. Washington has characterised the intervention as a law enforcement and national security operation targeting what it calls a narco terrorism network operating at the highest levels of the Venezuelan state.
Venezuela’s government issued its own statement honouring the fallen Cubans, saying it “salutes the 32 Cuban combatants who gave their lives in the fulfilment of their duty, in the context of cooperation and defence missions between brotherly nations.”
Putting it together with Cuba saying 32 Cubans died, this seems to suggest 32 Cuban security protected Maduro and all were taken out by Delta Force without any losses on their part. https://t.co/7ELl4MwCqn
— Rick Happy New Year 🎉 (@RickForTwice) January 5, 2026
Maduro and Flores now face federal charges in the United States related to drug trafficking and alleged cooperation with criminal groups designated by Washington as terrorist organisations. US authorities say the case builds on years of investigations into cocaine trafficking networks linked to Venezuelan officials.
Maduro has rejected the allegations, calling them politically motivated and part of a broader campaign to undermine Venezuela’s sovereignty. Venezuelan officials have demanded the immediate release of the couple, describing the operation as illegal, an act of aggression, and a violation of international law.
The deaths of Cuban personnel have further heightened tensions across the region, raising fears of a broader diplomatic crisis involving Havana, Caracas, and Washington. Analysts warn that the incident could mark a turning point in U.S.-Cuba relations, which have remained fragile despite intermittent attempts at rapprochement in recent years.
As mourning ceremonies begin in Cuba, the geopolitical fallout from the operation continues to unfold, with Latin American governments closely watching for signs of escalation or retaliation in the days ahead.