Venezuela reports 100 dead in U.S. military operation

Venezuela’s interior minister, Diosdado Cabello, said late Wednesday that 100 people died in a U.S. military attack that removed President Nicolás Maduro from power on Saturday.

Caracas had not previously released a total death toll; the Venezuelan army had publicly listed 23 of its own soldiers killed and Cuban authorities said 32 members of their military and intelligence services died in the operation. Cabello accused U.S. forces of killing a large part of Maduro’s security contingent “in cold blood.”

Injuries to Maduro and his wife
Cabello said Maduro suffered a leg injury and his wife, Cilia Flores, who was detained alongside him, suffered a head injury during the raid.

Mourning and government response
Venezuela’s interim president, Delcy Rodríguez, who has been leading the government since Maduro’s capture, declared a week of national mourning for members of the military killed in the operation.

U.S. actions and broader context
Maduro and Flores were reportedly taken into U.S. custody and have appeared in a U.S. court on criminal charges. The Trump administration has not publicly confirmed specific casualty figures, but has indicated that it may conduct further military actions if other governments do not cooperate.

Regional diplomatic effects
The intervention has sparked international controversy, including protests in neighboring Colombia. U.S. President Donald Trump has been engaging with Colombian President Gustavo Petro to manage tensions following Trump’s earlier threats of military action in the region.