Cuba has announced the deaths of 32 of its combatants during a United States military operation in Venezuela that culminated in the capture of President Nicolas Maduro, a development that has sharply escalated tensions between Washington, Havana, and Caracas.

The Cuban government confirmed the casualties on Sunday, describing the US action as a large-scale strike and declaring January 5 and 6 as national days of mourning. The announcement followed statements from Washington acknowledging that Cuban security personnel were among those killed during the operation.

Havana declares national mourning

In a televised address and subsequent statement, Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel said the fallen personnel had served “with honour” and resisted what he described as foreign aggression against a close regional ally.

According to Diaz-Canel, the combatants demonstrated fierce resistance consistent with Cuba’s long-standing policy of international solidarity, particularly with governments it considers ideologically aligned. Flags across the country are to be flown at half-staff during the two-day mourning period, while public festivities have been suspended.

The Cuban government said the 32 individuals were members of the Revolutionary Armed Forces and the Ministry of the Interior. Officials stated that they were deployed to Venezuela on official missions at the request of Venezuelan authorities, as part of long-standing bilateral cooperation agreements between the two countries.

According to Cuban officials, these deployments fall within frameworks that include security assistance, intelligence cooperation, and institutional support, arrangements that date back more than two decades.

Venezuela pays tribute and backs Cuba’s account

Caracas also acknowledged the deaths, issuing a statement that praised the Cuban personnel and reaffirmed the close alliance between the two governments.

The Venezuelan government said it “honours the 32 Cuban combatants who gave their lives in the fulfilment of their duty, in the context of cooperation and defence missions.” Officials did not provide additional operational details but echoed Havana’s claim that the personnel were acting within formal agreements between the two states.

The public show of unity highlights the depth of the Cuba-Venezuela relationship, which has survived years of economic crises, international sanctions, and political pressure. Cuba has long provided medical, intelligence, and security assistance to Venezuela, while receiving subsidised oil shipments in return, although those supplies have declined in recent years.

Washington acknowledges Cuban casualties

US President Donald Trump earlier confirmed that Cuban security personnel assigned to protect Maduro were killed during Saturday’s raid, although he did not specify numbers.

Washington described the operation as a targeted military action that resulted in the arrest of Maduro, a move US officials have framed as part of broader efforts to combat transnational crime and narcotics trafficking.

US authorities say Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, arrived in New York late on Saturday and are being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn. According to federal officials, the couple faces charges related to drug trafficking and alleged cooperation with gangs designated by the United States as terrorist organisations.

Trump described the operation as decisive, while senior US officials have argued that Maduro’s alleged activities posed a regional security threat.

Maduro rejects charges as illegal

Maduro has rejected the allegations against him, describing the charges as politically motivated and denying any involvement in drug trafficking or cooperation with criminal groups.

Venezuelan officials have called for the immediate release of Maduro and Flores, characterising the operation as illegal and a violation of Venezuela’s sovereignty. In a statement, the government said the arrest set a dangerous precedent for international relations and could destabilise the region.

According to Venezuelan officials, the operation breached international law and ignored diplomatic channels, claims that Washington has dismissed.

A history of US-Cuba-Venezuela tensions

The deaths of Cuban combatants have added a new layer of complexity to an already volatile geopolitical triangle. Relations between the United States and Cuba remain strained decades after the Cold War, despite periods of limited engagement. US policy toward Venezuela has also been defined by sanctions, diplomatic isolation, and support for opposition movements seeking to remove Maduro from power.

Analysts note that Cuba’s security presence in Venezuela has long been a point of contention for Washington. US officials have repeatedly accused Havana of propping up Maduro’s government through intelligence and security support, allegations Cuba has consistently denied or reframed as legitimate cooperation.

According to regional security experts, the confirmation of Cuban casualties marks one of the most direct confrontations involving Cuban personnel and US forces in recent history.

The incident comes at a time of heightened instability across Latin America, with governments facing economic pressure, political polarisation, and growing security challenges. The capture of a sitting president and the reported deaths of foreign combatants risk further escalation, particularly if diplomatic channels remain frozen.

“This is not just about Venezuela anymore,” said a Latin America analyst at a European foreign policy institute, speaking on condition of anonymity. “Cuba is now directly involved through confirmed losses, which raises the stakes and narrows the space for quiet de-escalation.”

Observers say the incident could harden positions in Havana and Caracas, potentially leading to retaliatory diplomatic or strategic moves.

Key questions remain unanswered, including whether Cuba will pursue formal complaints through international bodies or seek emergency regional consultations. It is also unclear how Venezuela’s internal political structure will respond in the absence of Maduro, and whether interim leadership arrangements will emerge.

In Washington, attention is expected to focus on the legal process facing Maduro and Flores, as well as the international reaction to their detention. Any perceived irregularities could fuel criticism from US allies and adversaries alike.

For Cuba, the deaths of the 32 combatants are likely to be used domestically to reinforce narratives of resistance and sovereignty, while internationally testing the limits of solidarity from sympathetic governments.

Editors may consider accompanying the story with a timeline chart showing key moments in US-Venezuela-Cuba relations, a map illustrating the operation’s location and regional alliances, or archival images highlighting past instances of Cuban-Venezuelan cooperation.

The confirmation that 32 Cuban combatants died during a US operation that led to Nicolas Maduro’s arrest has intensified regional tensions and raised serious diplomatic and legal questions. As Havana mourns its dead and Caracas protests what it calls an illegal intervention, the episode underscores the fragile state of international norms in an era of increasingly assertive power politics. How the involved parties respond in the coming days could shape the next phase of relations across the Americas.