32 Cuban Special Forces Killed in Maduro’s Capture

Havana – The Cuban government has confirmed that 32 of its elite special forces operatives were killed during the U.S. military raid that captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife on January 3, deepening tensions between Havana and Washington.

The fallen soldiers belonged to the renowned Avispas Negras (Black Wasps), formally known as Military Unit 4895, an elite unit of the Cuban Revolutionary Armed Forces.

This highly trained force had served as Maduro’s primary close-protection detail since he assumed power in 2013, providing security amid growing threats to his regime.

In an official statement released Sunday, Havana mourned the losses, declaring two days of national mourning on January 5 and 6.

“True to their responsibilities concerning security and defense, our compatriots fulfilled their duty with dignity and heroism and fell, after fierce resistance, in direct combat against the attackers or as a result of bombings on the facilities,” the statement said.

The Avispas Negras, experts in unconventional warfare and jungle combat, reportedly engaged U.S. Delta Force operators in intense firefights inside Maduro’s fortified residence at Fuerte Tiuna military complex in Caracas.

Eyewitness accounts describe U.S. commandos abseiling from helicopters, using flash grenades, and overwhelming the Cuban guards despite their determined defense.

Cuba condemned the operation as a “criminal attack” and “naked imperialism,” while President Miguel Díaz-Canel rallied supporters in Havana, vowing solidarity with Venezuela.

The deaths highlight Cuba’s deep military ties to Caracas, forged through decades of ideological alliance and oil-for-security exchanges.

As Maduro faces drug-trafficking charges in New York, the incident raises fears of broader regional fallout, with Havana warning of consequences for U.S. aggression. Families of the deceased have been notified, and funeral honors are planned.