Miguel Díaz-Canel raised the tone of the official discourse again, describing the U.S. military personnel involved in the operation that ended with the capture of Nicolás Maduro and the death of members of his personal security detail, made up of Cuban soldiers, as "cowardly and illegal."
In a message posted on X, the Cuban leader stated that the island will “receive with honor and glory” the 32 fallen soldiers, whom he described as men who, “with quintessential Cuban courage,” put the forces that executed the operation in Caracas “in check.” The message was accompanied by official images released by the Presidency, announcing an extensive program of posthumous tributes on January 15 and 16.
Díaz-Canel's words stand in stark contrast to the undeniable reality. According to sources from the US government confirmed to media outlets like CBS News, the capture of Maduro was carried out by Delta Force, one of the most secretive and lethal units of the US Army, specialized in counterterrorism and the capture of high-value targets.
The operation, authorized by President Donald Trump, involved precision bombings in Caracas and nearby states, and concluded with the extraction of Maduro and his wife from the country.
In the midst of that operation, 32 Cubans who were part of the security detail for the Venezuelan leader died, something that the regime of Havana vehemently denied for years.
The admission came only after the coup, through a statement published by the newspaper Granma, which acknowledged that the deceased were fulfilling "missions" for the Revolutionary Armed Forces and the Ministry of the Interior on Venezuelan territory.
The official reaction attempts to transform a military and political defeat into an epic narrative. The images shared display banners with the slogan "Honor and Glory," portraits of the fallen, and a ceremonial display that includes marches, vigil services, mass gatherings, and simultaneous ceremonies across the country.
On Thursday, January 15, the remains are expected to arrive at José Martí Airport, followed by a solemn transfer to the headquarters of the Ministry of Revolutionary Armed Forces, where they will be honored.
The next day, the regime has called for the so-called "March of the Combatant People," while the remains will finally be buried in military pantheons in their respective localities. The entire process is carefully designed to reinforce a narrative of sacrifice, unity, and confrontation with the United States.
The capture of Maduro by the Delta Force not only changed the political landscape in Venezuela, now under an interim presidency led by Delcy Rodríguez, but also revealed a long-denied truth by Havana: the direct involvement of Cuba in the security of the Chavista regime.
While the Cuban government declares tributes and accuses one of the world's most specialized military forces of "cowardice," 32 families mourn men who died far from home, on a mission that officially "did not exist," and for a political alliance whose human cost once again falls on the same people.
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