CARACAS, Venezuela: At least 55 Venezuelan and Cuban military personnel were killed during a US military operation that led to the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Saturday, according to official tolls released by Caracas and Havana on Tuesday.
The deaths occurred during a nighttime raid on January 3, when US forces carried out what Washington described as a “large-scale strike” in the Venezuelan capital, Caracas.
Cuba published the names of 32 members of its military who were killed in the operation. The list included three senior officers from Cuba’s interior ministry, AFP reported.
Venezuela’s military separately released the names of 23 of its personnel who died, including five admirals.
Venezuelan Defence Minister Vladimir Padrino López said on Sunday that Maduro’s presidential guard had been largely wiped out “in cold blood” during the operation, accusing US forces of bombarding parts of the capital before seizing the president from his residence.
Cuba-Venezuela military ties
During his 12 years in power, Maduro — like his predecessor Hugo Chávez — relied on specialised Cuban soldiers for personal security.
Cuba and Venezuela maintain close cooperation in military affairs, as well as in health and education, despite sustained pressure from Washington.
On January 3, US President Donald Trump announced that American forces had captured Maduro and his wife and flown them out of Venezuela.
US Attorney General Pam Bondi said Maduro had been indicted in the United States and would face drug trafficking and weapons charges in the Southern District of New York.
Trump said the United States would “run” Venezuela until a “safe, proper and judicious transition” could take place.
US officials said Washington intended to develop Venezuela’s oil sector with American energy companies.
International reaction
Several world leaders condemned the capture, while others called for restraint and de-escalation.
Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado welcomed the US action, saying Washington had fulfilled its promise to uphold the law.
She called for Edmundo González Urrutia to be installed as president and commander-in-chief of the armed forces.
Since September 2025, the Trump administration has intensified pressure on Venezuela, accusing the Maduro government of leading a drug cartel designated by the US State Department as a foreign terrorist organisation.
Washington has increased its air and naval presence in the region under Operation Southern Spear, authorising more than 20 strikes on alleged drug trafficking vessels in the Caribbean.
While the administration has framed the campaign as counter-narcotics, analysts have warned that its scale suggests an effort to force regime change.
Venezuela’s oil
Following Maduro’s capture, the Trump administration is preparing to hold discussions with senior executives from major US oil companies on reviving Venezuela’s oil industry, Council on Foreign Relations reported, citing sources familiar with the matter.
The move signals Washington’s intent to reintroduce American energy firms into a country with the world’s largest proven oil reserves.
The three largest US oil firms — Exxon Mobil, Chevron and ConocoPhillips — have not yet held formal talks with the White House, according to Reuters.
