The Cuban embassy hosted a solemn commemorative ceremony this morning to honor combatants who perished during internationalist missions. Interim Chargé d’Affaires Damian Delgado presided over the event, which featured the singing of the national anthem and a moment of silent tribute for those “who sacrificed their lives while fulfilling the sacred duty of solidarity and internationalism inherent to Cuban revolutionaries.”
Delgado eulogized the fallen as embodiments of “the nation’s most cherished values and the courageous fighting spirit of our people.” The ceremony transformed into a platform of political defiance, with attendees reaffirming their unwavering commitment to protect the Cuban Revolution against what was described as “threats from the US imperialist government.”
The diplomat’s address culminated in a powerful declaration: “The decision is simple: Homeland or Death. We will prevail!” This statement captured the intensely patriotic atmosphere of the event, which memorialized martyrs said to have fought “to their last breath on Venezuelan soil.”
In response to these casualties, the Cuban government has officially proclaimed a 30-hour period of national mourning commencing at 6:00 a.m. on January 5th, 2026, and concluding at 12:00 p.m. on January 6th. This gesture pays respect to those who “honorably fulfilled their duty and fell after demonstrating fierce resistance, either in direct combat against attackers or as casualties of facility bombings.”
According to an official government statement, the deceased were deployed as representatives of Cuba’s Revolutionary Armed Forces and Ministry of the Interior, conducting missions at the request of Venezuelan counterparts. Their heroic actions, the statement concludes, “have exalted the solidarity of millions of compatriots.”