Thirty-two Cuban security officials killed in Venezuelan attack

Jay Jackson
05 Jan 2026, 17:22 GMT+10

The announcement marked the first official death toll released by Havana following the operation.
The Venezuelan government has yet to reveal the extents of its casualties, other than saying soldiers and civilians were killed during the operation.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday night, U.S. President Donald Trump acknowledged the loss of life among Cuban forces during the operation.

HAVANA, Cuba - Cuba has confirmed that 32 of its military and police officers were killed during an attack on a Venezuelan military base over the weekend, an operation that culminated in the seizure of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, according to official statements and U.S. officials.

In a statement read on Cuban state television on Sunday night, the Cuban government said the officers were killed during American strikes carried out on Saturday in Venezuela. The announcement marked the first official death toll released by Havana following the operation. The Venezuelan government has yet to reveal the extents of its casualties, other than saying soldiers and civilians were killed during the operation.

According to Cuban authorities, Cuba's officers were deployed in Venezuela as part of a mission requested by the Venezuelan government. While officials did not specify the nature of their work, Cuba has long been a close ally of Caracas and has provided military, intelligence and police assistance to support Venezuela's internal security apparatus.

Rumors of Cuban casualties had circulated on the island throughout the weekend before the government's confirmation.

Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday night, U.S. President Donald Trump acknowledged the loss of life among Cuban forces during the operation.

"You know, a lot of Cubans were killed yesterday," Trump said as he returned to Washington from Florida on Sunday. "There was a lot of death on the other side. No death on our side."

The U.S. operation resulted in the capture of Maduro and his wife, who U.S. authorities say will face prosecution under an indictment accusing them of participating in a narco-terrorism conspiracy. Venezuelan officials have acknowledged that people were killed in the strikes but declined to provide casualty figures when contacted by The Associated Press.

Cuba's government announced two days of official mourning for the officers who were killed. Condolences were issued by former Cuban president Raúl Castro and current President Miguel Díaz-Canel, though authorities did not release the names or ranks of the dead.

"Faithful to their responsibilities for security and defense, our compatriots fulfilled their duty with dignity and heroism," the Cuban government statement said, adding that the officers died "after fierce resistance in direct combat against the attackers or as a result of the bombings of the facilities."

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio also highlighted Cuba's role in Venezuela over the weekend, asserting that Cuban personnel were deeply embedded in Maduro's security and intelligence operations.

"All the guards that help protect Maduro — this is well known — their whole spy agency, all that were full of Cubans," Rubio said, accusing Havana of helping to sustain Maduro's grip on power.

The events mark a dramatic escalation in the long-running tensions surrounding Venezuela's leadership, Cuba's regional influence, and U.S. efforts to force political change in Caracas.