However, independent reporting and official statements paint a more complex picture on the ground. Venezuelan authorities, along with reports from multiple international sources, state that at least 24 Venezuelan security personnel and 32 Cuban military personnel were killed during the strikes, with additional civilian casualties reported. Seven U.S. service members were wounded in the fighting.
The operation — code‑named “Operation Absolute Resolve” by U.S. officials — involved elite American special operations forces alongside coordinated strikes from U.S. military aircraft.
Within hours of the operation’s announcement, Venezuelan institutions moved to fill the leadership vacuum. The country’s Supreme Tribunal of Justice recognized Vice President Delcy Rodríguez as interim president, and she was sworn in amid a declaration of national mourning.
Rodríguez has denounced the U.S. operation as an illegal act of aggression and demanded proof of life for Maduro and Flores, who have since appeared in U.S. federal court and pleaded not guilty to the charges they face.
Across Latin America and around the world, reactions were immediate and intense. Government officials in Cuba confirmed military casualties and condemned the U.S. assault. Russia and other Maduro allies characterized the action as a blatant violation of international norms. Continue reading…
