January 8, 2026 | News | SUNTV Global Channel
Venezuelan authorities have claimed that at least 100 people were killed during a United States military operation that led to the removal of President Nicolás Maduro from power.
The announcement was made late Wednesday by Venezuela’s Interior Minister, Diosdado Cabello, marking the first official death toll since the dramatic raid carried out on Saturday. According to Cabello, many of those killed were members of Maduro’s security detail, whom he said were executed “in cold blood.”
Before this disclosure, the Venezuelan military had only released the names of 23 fallen soldiers, without providing a comprehensive casualty figure.
Cabello also revealed that Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, sustained injuries during the operation. Flores reportedly suffered a head injury, while Maduro sustained an injury to his leg after both were detained by U.S. forces.
Cuba has also weighed in, alleging that members of its military and intelligence services stationed in Venezuela were killed during the raid.
The operation unfolded against the backdrop of years of escalating tensions between Washington and Caracas, driven by sanctions, diplomatic confrontations and deep political disagreements.
U.S. authorities have long accused Maduro’s government of governance failures and security lapses — accusations consistently rejected by Venezuelan officials.
Following the raid, U.S. officials justified the operation by accusing Maduro of drug trafficking and narco-terrorism, citing federal indictments that alleged his government played a role in shipping large quantities of cocaine into the United States. These allegations were presented as the legal basis for his capture.
In the aftermath, U.S. President Donald Trump openly stated that Washington intended to reassert control over Venezuela’s oil industry, claiming it was originally built with American investment and accusing Maduro’s government of seizing U.S. energy assets. In a social media post, Trump declared that the U.S. would “run Venezuela and take over its oil.”
Speaking publicly for the first time after being taken to the United States, Maduro described himself as “kidnapped” and maintained his innocence.
During his weekly state television programme, Cabello announced that Venezuelan authorities had declared a week of mourning in honour of military personnel killed in the raid, describing them as “courageous defenders of the nation.”
