US Military Strike in Venezuela Left 47 Soldiers Dead, Government Says

A devastating United States military operation earlier this month that resulted in the removal of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro claimed the lives of 47 members of Venezuela’s armed forces, the country’s defense ministry reported Friday.

According to officials in Caracas, the updated fatality figure marked a significant rise from the initial tally of 23 soldiers. Of those killed, nine were women serving within the Bolivarian National Armed Forces.

Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López stated that the broader death toll from the assault, which included Cuban nationals fighting alongside Venezuelan troops, stood at 83. Among these were 32 Cuban soldiers, some reportedly assigned to Maduro’s personal security detail.

How the Operation Unfolded

The January 3 offensive began with targeted bombing raids on strategic military sites across Venezuela and concluded with U.S. special operations forces deploying by helicopter to seize Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, from a fortified compound.

More than 112 individuals were wounded during the assault, which Venezuela’s government has repeatedly condemned as an act of foreign aggression.

Government Response and Mourning

In a solemn tribute ceremony Friday, Minister Padrino honored the Venezuelan troops who perished, praising their sacrifice in the face of what he described as “military aggression.”

Following Maduro’s ouster, interim president Delcy Rodríguez — a prominent supporter of the former leader — declared a seven-day period of official mourning to honor those killed in the U.S. action.

Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello revealed that forensic experts were using DNA analysis to precisely identify victims, noting that some had been severely disfigured in the strike.

Civilian and Other Casualties

At this time, Caracas has not released a comprehensive breakdown of civilian casualties, though journalists and human rights researchers have reported non-military deaths connected to the attack. One such civilian death — that of a Colombian street vendor — was recorded during the U.S. intervention, underscoring the profound human cost of the offensive. For more context on civilian impacts in conflicts, see this recent overview by TIME.

As reactions unfold across the region and internationally, Venezuela’s military leadership insists it will review and restructure armed forces to better respond to future threats.