United States forces killed at least 55 Venezuelan and Cuban military personnel during the operation that led to the capture of ousted Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro, according to official figures released by Caracas and Havana on Tuesday. Venezuela’s military, confirming its losses for the first time, said 23 service members were killed in Saturday’s US attacks that removed Maduro from power, while civilian casualty figures have not yet been disclosed. Cuba separately confirmed that 32 members of its armed forces and interior ministry security personnel deployed to Caracas were also killed.
Venezuelan Defence Minister Vladimir Padrino López said many of the Cuban casualties were believed to be part of Maduro’s security detail, which he said was largely wiped out during the operation. Officials said those killed were aged between 26 and 67, including two colonels and a lieutenant colonel. The military action reportedly began with air strikes on key targets, followed by a helicopter-borne assault by US special forces that seized Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, from a secured compound. The couple were later flown to New York, where they appeared in court on Monday and pleaded not guilty to drug trafficking and other charges.
Hours after the court appearance, Maduro’s former deputy, Delcy Rodriguez, was sworn in as interim president. US President Donald Trump said he was open to working with Rodriguez if she grants US companies access to Venezuela’s oil reserves, while warning she would face severe consequences if she failed to meet Washington’s demands. Concerns over repression persisted as journalists’ groups reported the detention of at least 14 media workers covering the inauguration, while opposition figure Maria Corina Machado criticised Rodriguez as untrustworthy, accusing her of links to corruption and human rights abuses.