In a solemn ceremony at the Ministry of the Revolutionary Armed Forces (FAR) headquarters, Cuban leadership paid homage to 32 military personnel who perished during a recent US military operation. The incident occurred on January 3rd when American forces conducted an operation targeting Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores for arrest.
Raúl Castro, alongside President Miguel Díaz-Canel, led the memorial service with participation from Interior Minister Lázaro Álvarez Casas and FAR Minister Álvaro López Miera. The ceremony marked the return of the soldiers’ remains to Havana, where citizens gathered to pay their respects at the FAR compound.
The Cuban government announced posthumous military promotions for all 32 casualties, recognizing their exceptional heroism and sacrifice. The official statement described these honors as “a fitting and well-deserved tribute to their heroism.”
Simultaneous public demonstrations unfolded across the nation, with Havana residents convening at the Anti-Imperialist Tribune facing the US diplomatic mission. This gathering culminated in a “March of the Combatant People” expressing national solidarity and homage. Parallel ceremonies occurred in all provincial capitals, with the fallen soldiers scheduled for burial in pantheons dedicated to those who perished in defense of the nation.