Venezuelan Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello has stated that approximately 100 people were killed in the U.S. military operation that captured former President Nicolás Maduro over the weekend.
This is the first official death toll provided by Caracas, which had previously condemned the raid as an act of “cold-blooded” violence. While the Venezuelan army had earlier released a list of 23 fallen soldiers, the new figure includes a broader range of casualties from the pre-dawn operation on January 3.
Cabello, speaking on his weekly state television program, also reported that Maduro sustained a leg injury during the raid and that the former president's wife, Cilia Flores—detained alongside him—suffered a head injury.
In a related development, Cuba confirmed last Sunday that 32 of its military and intelligence personnel stationed in Venezuela were killed in the same operation, declaring two days of national mourning.
Interim Venezuelan President Delcy Rodríguez, whom Cabello praised as “courageous,” has declared a week of mourning for the military personnel killed. Rodríguez assumed leadership following Maduro’s extraction to the United States, where he faces narcotics-related charges.
The announcement marks a significant escalation in the Venezuelan government’s response to the U.S. intervention, as authorities continue to denounce the operation and vow to pursue international accountability.
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