Nearly 50 Venezuelan soldiers were among dozens killed in the U.S. military operation that ousted strongman Nicolás Maduro earlier this month, the Venezuelan defence ministry confirmed Friday.
The revised death toll sheds new light on the human cost of the dramatic assault.
Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López said a total of 47 Venezuelan service members, including nine women, lost their lives in the attack, which began with bombing raids on military targets and ended with U.S. special forces swooping in by helicopter to seize Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.
Overall, the defence minister said the total number of deaths stood at 83, a figure that includes Cuban soldiers who were reportedly part of Maduro’s protection team.
These figures refine earlier estimates, which had placed the death toll closer to 100.
Padrino López honoured the fallen troops during a ceremony on Friday, saying their sacrifices reflected deep commitment to their homeland amid what he described as “military aggression.”
“What have the men and women of our Bolivarian National Armed Forces done in the face of military aggression? They have given their lives, they have honored history and the homeland,” he said.
Interim president Delcy Rodríguez, who assumed leadership after Maduro’s ouster, decreed seven days of national mourning for those killed in the January 3 operation.
Meanwhile, Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello said experts were using DNA tests to identify some victims, noting that several bodies had been “blown to little pieces” in the intense strikes.
The U.S. military raid began early on Jan. 3 with coordinated bombing of strategic sites around Caracas, followed by a ground operation that led to the capture of Maduro and his wife.
Reuters and other international outlets have described the mission as unprecedented in scope, involving both air raids and precision assaults by U.S. forces.
In addition to Venezuelan fatalities, 32 Cuban soldiers assigned to Maduro’s protection were reported killed in the attack, highlighting the deep military ties between Havana and Caracas.
Cuba has since repatriated the remains of its deceased military personnel and held honours in their memory.
Despite evolving casualty counts, a full breakdown of civilian losses has not yet been released by Venezuelan authorities.
However, independent reporting has documented at least some non-combatant deaths linked to the strike.
The operation, led by U.S. special forces and described by Washington as a targeted mission to arrest Maduro on narco-terrorism charges, has drawn global attention and condemnation from regional allies.
