Cuban Nationals Killed in U.S. Airstrike on Venezuela

Thirty-two Cuban nationals were killed during a U.S. airstrike targeting installations in Venezuela, the Cuban government announced. The deceased were identified as members of the Cuban armed forces and intelligence agencies providing security to Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, according to Cuban authorities.

The U.S. military action involved airstrikes against targets in Venezuela as an elite military unit advanced toward Maduro's compound. Cuba, a long-standing ally of Venezuela, has declared two days of national mourning in response to the deaths. The Cuban armed forces stated that its personnel "fell, after fierce resistance, in direct combat against the attackers or as a result of bombardments of installations."

While Venezuela has not confirmed the Cuban deaths or released its own casualty figures, multiple news sources indicate the U.S. action involved intelligence gathering and the recruitment of a Venezuelan source. The incident has raised concerns about potential future U.S. actions toward Cuba. Some reports suggest a higher overall death toll, though these figures remain unconfirmed by Venezuelan authorities.

The incident has sparked questions regarding the implications for U.S.-Cuba relations and the potential for further intervention in Venezuela.