In total 32 Cubans died during the attack by US forces which culminated in the capture of ruler Nicolás Maduro in Venezuela, the Cuban government reported this Sunday (01/04/2026).
“As a result of the criminal attack perpetrated by the United States government against the sister Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (…) 32 Cubans lost their lives in combative actions“The government reported in a statement read on national television.
The president of Cuba, Miguel Díaz-Canel, explained on social networks that his country’s military “carried out missions” in Caracas at the “request of counterpart bodies in that country,” without further details.
In Caracas, The Government paid tribute to 32 “Cuban combatants” who claimed they died during the military attack carried out in the early hours of Saturday.
In a statement released on Sunday night on his Telegram account by Foreign Minister Yván Gil, the Venezuelan Executive assured that the Cubans “said their lives while fulfilling their duty” and indicated that these personnel carried out “institutional protection and defense tasks” as part of the “cooperation between sovereign States.”
Until now, various media outlets, both within Venezuela and abroad, cited unofficial reports from Venezuelan security forces that reported up to 26 deaths during the simultaneous attacks that occurred in the early hours of January 3.
Most of the dead belonged to the Presidential Security Battalionaccording to press versions.
Many analysts had pointed out that the first personal security circle of the Venezuelan president, Nicolás Maduro, was made up mainly of Cubans, something that Caracas and Havana had never confirmed.
Trump confirms the death of “many Cubans”
For his part, US President Donald Trump confirmed this Sunday that “many on the other side” died in the operation to capture Maduro, including “many Cubans” who were protecting the president detained to face charges of drug trafficking and corruption.
Trump lamented the deaths and revealed that The security forces protecting Maduro suffered many casualties during the Delta Force operation.
“Many Cubans died yesterday protecting Maduro,” said the president on his way to the White House from Florida aboard the presidential plane Air Force One.
Unofficially there is talk of 80 deaths
Venezuelan sources cited by the New York Times revealed that Venezuela suffered 80 deaths in the operation, while Washington officials have revealed that half a dozen US soldiers were wounded, although Trump would not confirm the numbers.
Venezuelan authorities have not confirmed how many people were killed or injured during the bombings.but the Minister of Defense, Vladimir Padrino López, said that “a large part” of Maduro’s security team was murdered “in cold blood” and that they were “gathering” information regarding victims.