Cuba mourns the tragic loss of 32 citizens killed during a United States military operation in Venezuela that resulted in the capture of deposed Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro and his wife. The incident, which unfolded in the Venezuelan capital of Caracas, has sparked national grief in Havana and drawn sharp international reactions.

On Sunday local time, the Cuban government declared two days of national mourning on 5 and 6 January to honour the fallen. Officials stated that funeral arrangements would be revealed later, underscoring the profound impact on the nation.

According to Cuba's state-run news agency Prensa Latina, the deceased were military personnel deployed on official missions in Venezuela at the request of its government. They perished either in direct clashes with US forces or from air strikes on military facilities, having reportedly offered fierce resistance.

Cuba has long maintained close ties with Venezuela, dispatching military and police personnel to bolster the regime of Nicolas Maduro. This alliance has now come under intense strain following the dramatic US intervention.

US President Donald Trump issued a stark warning to Cuba on the same day, asserting that its government teeters on the brink of collapse. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, he highlighted Cuba's heavy reliance on Venezuelan oil as a critical revenue source now severed by the operation.

"Cuba is ready to fall. Cuba looks like it's ready to fall," Trump declared. "They got all of their income from Venezuela, from the Venezuelan oil. They're not getting any of it now." His remarks extended warnings to Colombia, Mexico, and Denmark within hours.

Maduro, aged 63, and his wife Cilia Flores were swiftly transported to New York by US authorities post-capture. He faces drug-related charges in a US court appearance scheduled for Monday, charges he has consistently denied.

Graphic images of Maduro blindfolded and handcuffed, escorted by US forces, have proliferated across social media, shocking observers worldwide and particularly in Venezuela. The visuals symbolise a humiliating end to his long rule.

Venezuela's Defence Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez vehemently denounced the arrest as a "kidnapping," demanding the immediate release of Maduro and Flores. Local media amplified his call amid rising domestic tensions.

The New York Times, citing a Venezuelan official, reported that the US operation may have claimed at least 40 lives in total. Washington characterised it as a "large-scale strike" targeting Maduro's inner circle.

US officials confirmed Maduro's capture and extraction during the raid, praising the mission's execution. In an earlier Fox News interview, Trump noted minimal US casualties—only a few injuries and no fatalities—lauding the armed forces' professionalism.

"It was amazing to see the professionalism and the quality of the leadership," Trump remarked. "To have a few injuries, but no deaths on our side, is really amazing."

India's left-wing parties, including the Communist Party of India (CPI), CPI(M), and others, condemned the US action as an illegal "kidnapping" of Maduro. They have called for nationwide protests, viewing it as a violation of sovereignty.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio echoed Trump's tone, warning Cuban leaders directly. "I'd be concerned," he stated, implying potential repercussions for Havana's support of Maduro.

The operation disrupts longstanding Latin American alliances, with Cuba's economic lifeline—subsidised Venezuelan oil—now imperilled. Analysts predict this could accelerate Cuba's internal pressures amid existing shortages and sanctions.

Trump's broader admonitions to regional players signal a renewed hardline US policy towards leftist governments in the Americas. Colombia and Mexico face scrutiny over migration and security cooperation, while Denmark's inclusion remains puzzling.

As Maduro prepares for his court date, global attention fixes on the fallout. Venezuela grapples with leadership vacuum, Cuba with mourning and threats, and the US with justifying its bold incursion.

The death toll and diplomatic ripples underscore the high stakes of great-power interventions in fragile states. Observers await Havana's next moves and whether Trump's predictions of Cuban collapse materialise.

Based On ANI Report