HAVANA — The Cuban government has officially confirmed the deaths of 32 military and police officers during what it described as a U.S. military operation in Venezuela over the weekend. The announcement, delivered through state television on Sunday evening, marks the first official acknowledgment of significant casualties in an ongoing regional conflict.
According to the Cuban statement, the officers were deployed on an official mission at the explicit request of Venezuela’s government, a long-standing ally of Cuba. The Caribbean nation has consistently provided military and police support to Caracas for years, though the specific nature of this recent operation remains undisclosed.
The statement praised the fallen personnel, stating they ‘fulfilled their duty with dignity and heroism’ during what was characterized as ‘fierce resistance in direct combat against the attackers or as a result of the bombings of the facilities.’
In response to the incident, U.S. President Donald Trump acknowledged the casualties during remarks to reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday evening. ‘You know, a lot of Cubans were killed yesterday,’ President Trump stated. ‘There was a lot of death on the other side. No death on our side.’
The Cuban government has declared two days of national mourning to honor the deceased officers, highlighting the significant impact of the losses on the island nation.