Venezuela’s military held a solemn funeral ceremony in Caracas on Wednesday for dozens of soldiers killed during the US-led operation that resulted in the capture of President Nicolás Maduro. The emotional service featured military honors as grieving families stood alongside uniformed officers at a cemetery in the southern part of the capital city.
A military band played solemn music while family members and soldiers marched behind rows of flag-draped coffins. Armed members of the National Guard maintained security throughout the ceremony, patrolling the cemetery grounds for hours before and during the proceedings. Men carried wooden caches adorned with Venezuelan flags past lines of uniformed officers in a display of military tradition.
Military commander Rafael Murillo addressed the gathered families, stating, “Thank you for giving them the opportunity to begin a military career.” The soldiers received a rifle salute as their caskets were lowered into the ground, with many relatives weeping openly during the emotional moment.
The funeral followed Acting President Delcy Rodríguez’s declaration of a seven-day mourning period for the fallen officers. According to Venezuelan military statements, at least 24 Venezuelan officers perished during the nighttime US military operation between Saturday and Sunday that resulted in Maduro and First Lady Cilia Flores being taken to New York to face drug trafficking charges.
Meanwhile, Venezuelan Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello provided a significantly higher casualty estimate during a state television appearance, claiming at least 100 people died and a similar number were injured during the American operation. He did not specify the number of civilian versus military casualties or their nationalities.
In a related development, Cuba announced that 32 Cuban military and police personnel working in Venezuela were killed during the US operation. Venezuelan Attorney General Tarek William Saab has announced that the Public Ministry will investigate the deaths, which he characterized as war crimes.
The Venezuelan military expressed its resolve in an Instagram message: “Their spilled blood cries not for revenge, but for justice and strength. It confirms our unwavering promise not to rest until we have rescued our legitimate president, completely dismantled the terrorist groups operating from abroad, and ensured that such events never again stain our sovereign territory.”