Death Toll Climbs After US Raid To Capture Venezuela’s Maduro

The human cost of the US operation to seize Venezuela’s president is becoming clearer, and more devastating, by the hour.

According to reports cited by The New York Times, at least 80 people have been killed following a US raid aimed at capturing Nicolas Maduro, a figure that includes both soldiers and civilians. Venezuelan authorities have not yet released an official death toll, but senior officials acknowledge that the losses are severe.

The raid has plunged Venezuela into political shock, regional tension, and international condemnation, with Cuba declaring days of national mourning and accusations mounting that civilian areas were struck during the operation.

Venezuela Confirms Heavy Losses Among Security Forces

Venezuela’s defence minister, Vladimir Padrino Lopez, confirmed that a significant portion of Maduro’s security detail was killed during the raid. While he did not give exact numbers, his statement marked the first official acknowledgment from Caracas that the operation resulted in major fatalities.

Venezuelan officials have also accused the United States of hitting civilian neighbourhoods during the assault, although no verified breakdown of civilian casualties has yet been published.

In the aftermath of Maduro’s capture, the Venezuelan military formally recognised Delcy Rodriguez as acting president, a move that signals an attempt to project continuity and control amid deep uncertainty.

Cuba Mourns Dozens Of Its Citizens

The fallout has extended beyond Venezuela’s borders. Cuban authorities say 32 of their citizens were killed during the raid, including military personnel stationed in Venezuela as part of bilateral cooperation agreements.

Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel announced January 5 and 6 as official days of mourning, praising those who died for what he described as their courage under fire.

He said the Cuban nationals “fulfilled their duty with dignity and heroism,” adding that many were killed either in direct combat or as a result of aerial bombardment.

Venezuela’s foreign minister, Yvan Gil Pinto, echoed those sentiments, paying tribute to the Cubans who “offered their lives” during defence missions and condemning the raid as criminal and disgraceful.

US Claims No Fatalities Among Its Troops

From Washington, US President Donald Trump insisted that no American service members were killed during the operation. He did, however, suggest that some may have been wounded.

US officials speaking anonymously to The New York Times said roughly six American soldiers were injured during the mission to capture Maduro and his wife. The injuries were reportedly sustained during intense fighting around key targets.

American officials have maintained that the airstrikes carried out during the raid were designed to provide cover for ground forces, not to inflict widespread destruction.

A Mission Framed As Justice, Seen As Regime Change

According to US sources, the operation targeted military bases, communication infrastructure, and weapons depots in order to facilitate Maduro’s capture and transfer to the United States, where he is wanted on drug trafficking and weapons charges.

Venezuela’s leadership has long rejected these accusations, arguing that the charges are politically motivated and aimed at justifying regime change rather than pursuing justice.

That narrative has found traction across parts of Latin America and on social media, where hashtags condemning US intervention began trending within hours of the raid. Many users described the operation as an invasion, while others questioned the legality and humanitarian impact of the strike.

A Region Watching Closely

For countries in the Global South, including South Africa, the situation in Venezuela resonates deeply. The raid revives uncomfortable memories of foreign military interventions justified through legal or moral arguments, only to leave lasting instability behind.

As images from Caracas circulate and official casualty numbers continue to shift, the focus is increasingly turning from the mission’s objectives to its consequences. With civilians, soldiers, and foreign nationals among the dead, the operation has already reshaped the political landscape of Venezuela and placed fresh strain on US relations with Latin America.

What comes next may define not only Venezuela’s future, but how military power is judged in an increasingly sceptical world.

{Source:IOL}

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