The regime declares a national mourning for the 32 Cuban guards killed during the capture of Maduro

The ruler Miguel Díaz-Canel declared two days of national mourning in Cuba this Saturday for the death of 32 Cuban citizens during the U.S. military operation in Caracas that ended with the capture of Nicolás Maduro in the early hours of January 3, 2026.

Presidential Decree 1147, signed at the Palace of the Revolution and published in the Official Gazette, states that the mourning period will extend from 6:00 a.m. on January 5 to midnight on January 6. During this time, the flag will be flown at half-mast on public buildings and military institutions, and all shows and festive activities in the country will be suspended.

“With deep sorrow, our people have learned that during the criminal attack carried out by the government of the United States against the sister Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, 32 Cubans lost their lives in combat actions,” the text of the decree states.

According to the decree, the deceased were on missions representing the Revolutionary Armed Forces (FAR) and the Ministry of Interior (MININT), "at the request of counterpart agencies from the South American country." Díaz-Canel highlighted their "heroic actions" and asserted that the fallen "knew how to elevate the solidarity felt by millions of compatriots."

Hours earlier, the MININT had confirmed the number of casualties, describing the U.S. attack as a "criminal act of aggression and state terrorism." The institution reported that the families of the deceased had been notified and received condolences from Army General Raúl Castro Ruz, Díaz-Canel, and the Cuban military leadership.

The official statement comes amid an unprecedented regional climate of tension, following the extraction of Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, by U.S. troops. Sources in Washington indicated that among the dead were members of the Cuban escort that was protecting the Chavista leader, an operational body that has been deployed in Venezuela for over a decade.

The national mourning decree aims to project an image of unity and resilience at a time when Cuba is facing a profound economic crisis and the loss of its main political and energy ally.

The document concludes by ordering the ministers of the FAR, MININT, and Foreign Affairs to ensure its compliance, emphasizing the solemn nature of the tribute to the 32 Cubans "who fell while fulfilling their internationalist duty."