Casualty figures vary sharply as Caracas, Havana and Washington release conflicting accounts of fatalities from the military raid in the Venezuelan capital.
According to details received by The Chenab Times, Venezuela’s government has said that more than 100 people were killed during the United States military operation that led to the capture of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, while U.S. officials and other governments have released significantly lower and conflicting estimates, leaving the overall death toll from the raid under dispute.
Venezuela’s Interior Minister said on state television that around 100 people lost their lives during the operation carried out by U.S. forces in Caracas. The statement marked the first time Venezuelan authorities offered a broad total encompassing both security personnel and civilians, following several days of piecemeal casualty announcements after the raid.
Earlier, Venezuela’s military confirmed that 23 of its service members were killed during the predawn operation. Separately, the Cuban government said that 32 Cuban military and police personnel stationed in Venezuela died in the fighting. Those two official announcements together account for 55 confirmed deaths among Venezuelan and Cuban security forces, based on statements from Caracas and Havana.
U.S. officials, however, have presented a different assessment. According to reporting by American media outlets citing officials familiar with the matter, Washington estimates that between 75 and 80 people were killed in total. These figures, described as internal assessments, include Venezuelan and Cuban security forces as well as civilians who may have been caught in the crossfire during aerial strikes and ground combat near government and military installations in the capital.
Venezuelan Attorney General Tarek William Saab has said that “dozens” of officials and civilians were killed, though he has not released a consolidated figure. He has characterized the U.S. operation as an act of aggression and said Venezuelan prosecutors would open investigations into civilian casualties and damage caused by the strikes.
Independent verification of civilian deaths has not yet been completed. International news agencies reporting from Caracas have said that residents described fatalities and destruction in residential areas, but an exact count of non-combatant deaths has not been confirmed by neutral observers or international organizations.
The Pentagon has maintained that no U.S. service members were killed during the operation. U.S. defence officials have acknowledged that several American personnel were injured during the raid, but said all injuries were non-fatal. Details about the circumstances of those injuries have not been fully disclosed.
The operation, which involved aerial bombardment followed by a ground assault by elite U.S. units, resulted in the capture of Maduro and Flores, who were flown to the United States to face federal charges related to narcotics trafficking and weapons offenses. Both have pleaded not guilty in a New York court.
❤️ Support Independent Journalism
Your contribution keeps our reporting free, fearless, and accessible to everyone.
Or make a one-time donation
Secure via Razorpay • 12 monthly payments • Cancel anytime before next cycle
(We don't allow anyone to copy content. For Copyright or Use of Content related questions, visit here.)
Global Affairs Desk at The Chenab Times covers international developments, global diplomacy, and foreign policy issues through fact-based reporting, explainers, and analytical pieces. The desk focuses on major geopolitical events, diplomatic engagements, and international trends, with an emphasis on verified information, multiple perspectives, and contextual understanding of global affairs.
