Venezuela and Cuba Announce Death of 55 Troops During Operation to Arrest Maduro

Venezuela and Cuba have announced the deaths of 55 military and security personnel during the recent U.S. operation that led to the arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in Caracas.

Cuban authorities confirmed that 32 members of Cuban security forces were killed during the operation, releasing the names of those who died. Meanwhile, the Venezuelan armed forces reported the deaths of 23 military personnel, describing them as casualties sustained while responding to the U.S.-led action.

The announcement follows earlier statements by Pete Hegseth, who said the American operation was carried out overnight from Friday into Saturday. According to U.S. officials, the raid involved around 200 troops and the deployment of approximately 150 aircraft, characterizing it as a swift and highly coordinated mission.

The operation, which resulted in Maduro’s arrest in the Venezuelan capital, has sparked widespread regional and international reactions, with growing scrutiny over its military scale and human cost. Caracas and Havana have both condemned the operation, describing the casualties as evidence of what they called an excessive use of force.

The deaths of personnel from both countries add a new dimension to the unfolding crisis, as questions continue to mount over the implications of the operation for regional stability and future relations between Washington, Caracas, and Havana.