Cuba announced on Monday that 32 Cuban nationals were killed during a U.S. military operation in Venezuela. The raid, carried out on Saturday, resulted in the arrest and transfer of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro to New York. Reports indicate that a significant portion of Maduro’s security detail was also killed during the operation.
Role of the Cuban Personnel
According to a statement shared by Cuba’s presidential office on Facebook, the deceased Cubans were carrying out official assignments for the Cuban Armed Forces and the Ministry of the Interior. Authorities stated that these individuals were involved in security and defense missions at the time of the attack.
The statement emphasized that the Cuban personnel resisted what it described as a forceful assault, losing their lives either in direct combat with the attackers or due to airstrikes targeting facilities where they were stationed. Cuban officials praised the fallen as having acted with commitment and bravery while fulfilling their duties.
Cuba’s Response and Official Position
The Cuban government strongly condemned the U.S. operation, labeling it a “criminal act of aggression” and an act of state terrorism. Officials confirmed that national tributes would be held to honor those who died during the raid.
U.S. Military Action and Political Context
The raid followed weeks of heightened U.S. military activity in the region, including troop movements and explicit warnings issued by U.S. President Donald Trump toward the Maduro government.
After the operation, Trump stated that the United States intended to effectively oversee Venezuela until what he described as a “safe, proper, and judicious transition” could be achieved.
U.S. Strategy on Venezuela
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio explained that Washington plans to use its growing influence—particularly through an oil blockade and increased military presence—to push Venezuela toward specific policy outcomes. Speaking on NBC’s Meet the Press, Rubio said the goal is to guide Venezuela in a direction aligned with U.S. objectives.
In a separate interview on ABC’s This Week, Rubio elaborated that the United States has effectively placed a “quarantine” on Venezuelan oil, restricting the country’s ability to advance economically until conditions favored by both the U.S. government and the Venezuelan population are met.
Expanded Military Pressure
In recent months, the United States has seized oil tankers linked to Venezuela and deployed additional naval vessels and military aircraft throughout the Caribbean, signaling sustained pressure on the Venezuelan government beyond the weekend raid.
The U.S. raid on Venezuela has intensified geopolitical tensions across the region, particularly with Cuba, which confirmed the deaths of 32 of its citizens during the operation.
As Washington expands its military and economic pressure through oil restrictions and regional deployments, Cuba has sharply criticized the action while pledging to honor its fallen personnel. The situation underscores a significant escalation in U.S.–Venezuela relations, with broader implications for regional stability.
FAQs
How many Cuban citizens were killed in the U.S. raid on Venezuela?
Cuba stated that 32 of its citizens lost their lives during the military operation.
What was the objective of the U.S. raid?
The raid resulted in the arrest and extraction of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro to New York.
How is the U.S. pressuring Venezuela beyond military action?
The U.S. is enforcing an oil blockade, seizing tankers, and increasing its military presence in the Caribbean.
Source: DanKaminisky
Source Link: https://dankaminsky.com/cuba-claims-32-citizens-killed-in-u-s-raid-targeting-venezuelas-maduro/