At least 100 people were killed during a U.S. military operation that removed Venezuelan former President Nicolás Maduro from power over the weekend, according to Venezuela’s interior minister, marking one of the deadliest foreign interventions in the country’s modern history.
Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello said late Wednesday that the fatalities occurred during the raid that led to Maduro’s detention on Saturday. Speaking on state television, Cabello said a significant portion of those killed were members of Maduro’s security detail, describing the deaths as having occurred “in cold blood.”
Authorities in Caracas had not previously released a consolidated casualty figure. Earlier in the week, Venezuela’s armed forces published a list naming 23 soldiers killed in the operation, without specifying the total number of military or civilian casualties.
Cuba, a longtime ally of Maduro’s government, said 32 members of its military and intelligence services stationed in Venezuela were also killed. Cuban officials did not provide further details on where or how their personnel were targeted.
The U.S. government has not publicly confirmed casualty figures. Reuters and other international outlets have reported that details surrounding the scale and scope of the operation remain limited.
Cabello said Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were both injured during the raid that led to their capture. According to the interior minister, Flores sustained a head injury, while Maduro suffered an injury to his leg. No medical records have been released, and U.S. officials have not commented on their condition.
Maduro was removed from power on Saturday following what U.S. President Donald Trump described as a decisive operation aimed at ending what Washington has long called an illegitimate government. Venezuelan officials have rejected that characterization, calling the operation an illegal act of aggression.
In response to the deaths, interim President Delcy Rodríguez declared a week of national mourning on Tuesday for members of the Venezuelan military killed in the operation. Cabello praised Rodríguez during his weekly television program, describing her as “courageous” as she assumes leadership amid deep political and security uncertainty.
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Flags were lowered at government buildings across Caracas, and state media broadcast tributes to fallen soldiers throughout the day.
The operation and its aftermath have intensified diplomatic tensions across Latin America and the Caribbean. Venezuelan officials have accused the United States of violating international law and attempting to seize control of the country’s vast oil reserves.
Earlier this week, senior Venezuelan officials described Maduro’s detention as a “kidnapping,” a charge the White House has dismissed. The U.S. has said the operation was necessary to stabilize the country and protect regional security interests.
Cuba’s acknowledgment of losses underscores the broader regional implications of the conflict, given Havana’s longstanding military and intelligence cooperation with Caracas.
With Maduro in U.S. custody and Rodríguez serving as interim president, Venezuela faces an uncertain transition period. No timeline has been announced for elections or a formal political process, and international reactions remain sharply divided.