The Cuban government has accused the United States of killing 32 Cuban nationals during a military operation in Venezuela that led to the capture of President Nicolás Maduro.
In a statement broadcast on state television on Sunday, Havana said the deaths occurred “as a result of the criminal attack carried out by the government of the United States” against Venezuela.
According to Cuban authorities, those killed were members of Cuba’s Revolutionary Armed Forces and the Ministry of the Interior who were deployed on missions “at the request of counterpart agencies” in Venezuela.
The allegation followed a dramatic US military operation on Saturday in which Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were removed from Caracas and transferred to the United States. Maduro is expected to face charges related to drug trafficking and terrorism in a New York court.
Cuba’s official statement said the fallen personnel “carried out their duty with dignity and heroism,” adding that they died after “fierce resistance in direct combat or as a result of US bombings.”
In response, the Cuban government announced two days of national mourning starting at dawn on Monday and said arrangements would be made to honour the dead.
President Miguel DÃaz-Canel paid tribute on social media, writing: “Honour and glory to the brave Cuban fighters who fell confronting terrorists in imperial uniform.”
— AFP
0 Comments