US Forces Kill 55 Venezuelan, Cuban Troops in Raid That Captured Maduro – Report
United States forces killed at least 55 Venezuelan and Cuban military and security personnel during a dramatic weekend raid that led to the capture and removal of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, official tallies released by Caracas and Havana showed on Tuesday.
In its first confirmation of losses since the operation, the Venezuelan military said 23 of its service members were killed during Saturday’s US attacks, which culminated in Maduro’s ouster. Venezuelan authorities have yet to release an official figure for civilian casualties.
Cuba, a close ally of the former Venezuelan leader, also confirmed that 32 members of its armed forces and interior ministry security personnel deployed to Caracas were killed in the raids. Cuban officials said the dead included personnel aged between 26 and 67, among them two colonels and a lieutenant colonel.
Venezuelan Defence Minister Vladimir Padrino López said many of the Cuban casualties were believed to be part of Maduro’s personal security detail, which was largely wiped out during the operation.
According to reports, the assault began with coordinated US bombing raids on military targets before special forces were deployed by helicopter to seize Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, from a fortified compound in Caracas.
Both were later flown to New York, where they appeared in court on Monday and pleaded not guilty to drug trafficking and other charges.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum on Tuesday urged the United States to ensure that Maduro receives a “fair trial,” amid growing international reactions to the unprecedented operation.
Interim leadership and US demands
Hours after Maduro’s court appearance, his former deputy, Delcy Rodríguez, was sworn in as Venezuela’s interim president.
US President Donald Trump said Washington was prepared to work with Rodríguez, provided she complies with US demands, including granting American companies access to Venezuela’s vast oil reserves.
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Rodríguez now faces the challenge of balancing those demands while maintaining the loyalty of Maduro-era hardliners who still control key security institutions and paramilitary groups patrolling the streets since the former leader’s capture.
In a sign that Venezuela’s repressive security structure remains intact, a journalists’ union reported that 14 journalists and media workers—mostly from foreign media outlets—were detained while covering Rodríguez’s inauguration at parliament on Monday. Two other foreign journalists were also detained near the Colombian border. All were later released.
Opposition backlash
Opposition leader María Corina Machado criticised Washington’s support for Rodríguez, describing her as untrustworthy.
“Delcy Rodríguez is one of the main architects of torture, persecution, corruption and narcotrafficking,” Machado said in an interview with Fox News, adding that Rodríguez maintained close ties with Russia, China and Iran.
Trump, while backing Rodríguez for now, warned that she would face “a very big price, probably bigger than Maduro” if she fails to comply with US conditions.
So far, Rodríguez has retained key figures in the cabinet, including Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello and Defence Minister Padrino López, both widely regarded as the real power brokers in the country.
A retired Venezuelan general predicted that Rodríguez could reopen Venezuela to US oil and mining firms, restore diplomatic relations severed in 2019, and possibly release political prisoners to ease international pressure over human rights abuses.
Trump on Tuesday described Maduro as a “violent guy” responsible for mass killings and torture, claiming that detention and torture facilities in Caracas were being shut down.
Under Venezuela’s constitution, once Maduro is formally declared absent, presidential elections must be held within 30 days.
Machado said she was confident the opposition would secure an overwhelming victory in any free and fair election, vowing to dismantle criminal structures, revive the economy and turn Venezuela into “the energy hub of the Americas.”
She also said she had not spoken to Trump since October 10.
By PRNigeria
