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The Defense Minister of the Venezuelan regime, Vladimir Padrino, accused the U.S. of cold-bloodedly assassinating a large part of the security team of ousted president Nicolás Maduro.
In a statement from the Armed Forces of the regime, the general expressed his strong rejection of the "cowardly kidnapping" by Maduro and Cilia Flores, "after cold-bloodedly murdering a significant part of their security team, soldiers, and innocent citizens."
Padrino did not provide the exact number of casualties.
Trump revealed the death of Cubans
US President Donald Trump claimed that Cubans died while trying to protect Nicolás Maduro during the US military operation.
"Did you know that many Cubans lost their lives last night? Many Cubans lost their lives. They were protecting Maduro. That was not a good decision," Trump said in an interview with The New York Post, although he acknowledged that he does not know the exact number of deceased, nor specified whether they were military personnel, advisors, or security staff sent from Cuba.
In the same interview, Trump directly linked Cuba to the support of the Venezuelan regime. "Cuba has always depended heavily on Venezuela. That’s where they got their money and protected Venezuela, but that hasn't worked out very well in this case," he stated, reinforcing the narrative of a strategic alliance that would have fatal consequences for Cuban citizens.
Collapse of Maduro's security team
The Cuban security apparatus surrounding Nicolás Maduro that had served as his most reliable shield for years failed to prevent his capture during the U.S. military operation that resulted in his removal from Venezuela.
The incursion, carried out by the elite unit Delta Force with support from the CIA, has highlighted the fragility of the Cuban-Venezuelan protection system, a central pillar of Chavista power since the death of Hugo Chávez.
Over the past decade, Havana has controlled the intelligence, counterintelligence, and presidential security in Caracas. According to reports from international media, Maduro had reinforced his security detail with dozens of Cuban bodyguards, selected by the Cuban Ministry of the Interior (MININT) and the State Security Department (DSE). These agents were responsible not only for his physical protection but also for internal surveillance on Venezuelan officials themselves.
The Venezuelan leader, according to intelligence sources cited by Axios and The New York Times, feared being assassinated by his own Cuban advisors if he left power, due to the sensitive information he held regarding financial agreements, drug trafficking networks, and joint intelligence operations between Caracas and Havana.
“Cuba was their guardian, but also their jailer”, warned CiberCuba weeks before his fall.
Maduro frequently changed his residence, phone, and security team. He even ordered the incorporation of more G2 Cuban officers into the Venezuelan army to detect potential internal betrayals. However, this absolute dependence on Havana became his Achilles' heel.
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