Cuba Reveals Number Of Its Police Officers Killed In US Operations In Venezuela

According to a report by the Times of Israel on Monday 5 January, 2025, Havana says 32 Cuban police officers and soldiers were killed during a US operation in Venezuela that ended with the capture of President Nicolás Maduro, according to Cuban officials.

The announcement came early Monday via state television, where authorities said the Cubans had been deployed to Venezuela at the request of its government. They were taking part in security-related missions when US forces launched the operation in Caracas, officials said.

Cuban leaders described the incident as a US attack on Venezuelan sovereignty and said the deaths occurred during combat. While the government confirmed the number of casualties, it offered few specifics about where the Cubans were positioned or what roles they were performing at the time.

Details about the mission remain murky. Still, Cuba and Venezuela have maintained a tight alliance for years, and Havana has long sent advisers, police, and military personnel to assist Caracas with internal security and intelligence operations. This deployment, officials suggested, was part of that ongoing cooperation.

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump acknowledged the Cuban deaths while speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One as he returned to Washington from Florida late Sunday. “You know, a lot of Cubans were killed yesterday,” he said, adding that “There was a lot of death on the other side. No death on our side.”

The comments followed a weekend of high tension across the region, with large rallies held in Havana in support of Venezuela after Maduro was flown out of the country by US forces. International reaction continues to unfold as governments weigh in on the dramatic escalation and its human cost.

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