Cuba declared two days of national mourning after 32 Cuban nationals were killed during a United States military operation in Venezuela that resulted in the capture of President Nicolás Maduro, Cubadebate reported on January 5.

The US military operation captured Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores, transporting them to the United States where they face charges of narco-terrorism, weapons possession and drug trafficking. Venezuela declared a state of emergency following what Caracas characterised as military aggression.

Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel ordered flags to be flown at half-mast and public events cancelled from 06:00 on January 5 until midnight on January 6. The Cuban nationals were performing security and defence duties at Venezuela's request when they were killed in the US operation on January 3.

"Faithful to their obligations to ensure security and defence, our compatriots fulfilled their duty with dignity and heroism and fell after fierce resistance either in direct combat against the attackers or as a result of bombardments," the Cuban government stated.

US President Donald Trump confirmed aboard Air Force One that "many Cubans" were killed during the operation to capture Maduro. The New York Times, citing a senior Venezuelan official, reported the overall death toll from the US strike rose to 80 people, including civilians and security personnel.

The Cuban personnel killed in the operation were part of a long-standing security cooperation arrangement between Havana and Caracas.

Cuba has maintained close military and intelligence ties with Venezuela dating to the Hugo Chávez presidency in the late 1990s, with thousands of Cuban personnel serving across various sectors, including security, healthcare and education.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio described the operation as targeting drug trafficking rather than constituting war against Venezuela.