Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel declared Jan. 5 and 6 national days of mourning to honor the combatants, saying they carried out their duties with honor and showed “fierce resistance” reflecting Cuba’s long-standing tradition of international solidarity.
In an official statement, the Cuban government said those killed were serving on authorized missions representing the Revolutionary Armed Forces and the Ministry of the Interior.
It said the personnel had been deployed at the request of Venezuelan authorities as part of bilateral cooperation between the two countries.
Meanwhile, the Venezuelan government also paid tribute to the dead, saying it “honors the 32 Cuban combatants who gave their lives in the fulfillment of their duty, in the context of cooperation and defense missions.”
US President Donald Trump said earlier that a significant number of Cuban security personnel assigned to protect Maduro were killed during Saturday’s raid.
Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, arrived in New York late on Saturday and are being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn.
US authorities say the couple faces federal charges related to drug trafficking and alleged cooperation with gangs designated as terrorist organizations.
Maduro has rejected the allegations, while Venezuelan officials have called for the couple’s immediate release.
They described the operation as illegal and a violation of Venezuela’s sovereignty.