HAVANA, January 15, 2026 – Cuba conducted a solemn state ceremony at José Martí International Airport to honor 32 combatants who perished during recent military engagements in Venezuela. The ceremony marked the repatriation of remains and was attended by the nation’s highest leadership, including Army General Raúl Castro Ruz and President Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez.
The emotional ceremony witnessed the arrival of flag-draped coffins containing the remains of the fallen soldiers, each covered with Cuba’s single-star flag. Military honors included a three-volley rifle salute and the performance of the national anthem as the nation mourned its lost defenders.
In his address, Minister of the Interior Lázaro Alberto Álvarez Casas emphasized the symbolic significance of the soldiers’ sacrifice, stating, ‘We do not welcome them with resignation, but with deep pride and eternal commitment. Death does not defeat those who fall defending a just cause.’ The minister explicitly connected the casualties to what Cuban authorities characterized as ‘US aggression against Venezuela,’ framing the combatants’ deaths as both a defense of Venezuela and Cuba’s national sovereignty.
The ceremony highlighted the strong bilateral relations between Cuba and Venezuela, with Venezuelan Ambassador Orlando Maneiro Gaspar in attendance. Minister Álvarez Casas invoked the historical legacy of Simón Bolívar, José Martí, Hugo Chávez, and Fidel Castro, portraying the current conflict as part of a broader anti-imperialist struggle.
Throughout the day, thousands of Cuban citizens gathered despite inclement weather to pay respects to the fallen soldiers. The ceremony concluded with Raúl Castro and President Díaz-Canel leading an honor guard at the Ministry of the Revolutionary Armed Forces headquarters, where they paid individual tribute to each of the 32 coffins.
The government’s characterization of events emphasized national unity and resilience in the face of external threats, with official statements repeatedly condemning US foreign policy while celebrating the soldiers’ sacrifice as heroic and ideologically consistent with Cuba’s revolutionary principles.