The Cuban government has said 32 of its nationals were killed during the US operation to capture Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro.
It stated that the deceased were members of its armed forces and intelligence agencies, leading to a declaration of two days of national mourning.
A brief statement did not elaborate on the Cubans' specific roles in Venezuela, but highlights the long-standing alliance between the two nations, with Cuba providing security support in exchange for oil.
Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel noted that they had been providing protection for Maduro and his wife at the request of the Venezuelan government.
An official government statement remarked, Our compatriots fulfilled their duty with dignity and heroism, falling after fierce resistance in direct combat against the attackers or from bombings on the facilities.
Venezuela has not verified how many additional people were killed during the US raid on Maduro's Caracas compound. However, reports from the New York Times, citing an unnamed Venezuelan official, suggest the death toll could be as high as 80, which has yet to be independently confirmed.
In light of Maduro's capture, speculations have arisen concerning potential US military action against Cuba, given its similar historical tensions with the United States.
US President Donald Trump asserted that military action wasn't necessary, claiming, Cuba is ready to fall, while Secretary of State Marco Rubio characterized Cuba as a disaster run by incompetent, senile men.
Trump's administration previously implemented tightened restrictions on Cuba, reversing earlier efforts to ease pressure on the island nation.
The US's long-standing economic embargo on Cuba, originally enacted in 1962, continues amid calls for its termination from international organizations such as the United Nations.
