Venezuela’s Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello has claimed that at least 100 people were killed during a U.S. operation carried out in the country with the aim of capturing President Nicolás Maduro. He disclosed the information on Wednesday (January 7) during a broadcast on state television.
Until now, the government in Caracas had not released any official casualty figures. However, the Venezuelan military has published a list confirming the deaths of 23 of its personnel in the operation. Government officials alleged that a significant portion of President Maduro’s security forces were “executed in cold blood.”
Cuba, meanwhile, announced that several members of its military and intelligence services stationed in Venezuela were also killed during the operation.
According to Cabello, First Lady Cilia Flores, who was taken away along with President Maduro during the operation, sustained a head injury. President Maduro himself reportedly suffered an injury to his leg.
Speaking on his weekly program aired on state television, Cabello praised the Venezuelan armed forces as “brave” and “heroic.” He also announced that a week-long period of national mourning was declared starting Tuesday in memory of the soldiers killed in the operation.