January 5 (UPI) — Thirty-two Cubans were killed in U.S. military operations in Venezuela on Saturday, Havana reported.
Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermudez’s office issued a statement late Sunday announcing the death toll from Saturday’s U.S. attack on Venezuela that led to the arrest of Venezuela’s authoritarian President Nicolás Maduro.
“Our compatriots, loyal to their responsibilities of security and defense, carried out their duties with dignity and heroism, fell after fierce resistance in direct combat with the attackers or the bombardment of the installation,” Bermudez’s office said.
The family of the deceased has been notified and received “heartfelt condolences” from former Cuban President Raúl Castro Ruz.
“I share the same pain and outrage toward our people, especially the loved ones of our brave comrades,” Bermudez said in a statement.
“As I embrace their families and friends during this terrible time, I reaffirm my deep love, admiration and pride in them and their heroic actions.”
The victims were in Venezuela carrying out missions on behalf of the Revolutionary Armed Forces and the Interior Ministry. Cuba says they are there at the request of Caracas.
It was the first official casualty toll since the United States launched an attack on Venezuela early Saturday that included bombing the capital.
The United States characterized the military operation as a law enforcement operation to detain Maduro because he was indicted on drug trafficking charges in the United States. The operation raised questions about its legality under international law and drew criticism from allies France and Colombia.
U.S. President Donald Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday that “many Cubans” were killed in the attack, but it was not known how many.
“Unfortunately, there are no deaths on our side but there are a lot of deaths on the other side,” he said.
It was unclear how many Venezuelans were killed and wounded in Saturday’s attacks.
