The Venezuelan administration formally stated that 100 individuals, among them civilians, lost their lives during a U.S. military mission aimed at capturing Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. This is the first instance in which the Venezuelan government has revealed the extent of fatalities resulting from a U.S. military action.

As reported by Reuters and other media on the 7th, Diosdado Cabello, Venezuela’s Interior Minister, mentioned on state television that 100 individuals had died up to that point as a result of the U.S. military action. He acknowledged that civilians were among those killed but did not provide the specific number of civilian casualties.

This marks the first time the Venezuelan government has released a death count since the U.S. effort to remove the Maduro administration. Previously, Venezuelan military officials had listed the names of 23 deceased soldiers, while the Cuban government stated that 32 military and intelligence personnel were killed in Venezuela. Furthermore, a representative from the Venezuelan government disclosed that a large number of Maduro’s security team were also killed.

Cabello stated that Maduro and his wife were harmed in the arrest process. He noted that Maduro suffered a leg injury during the U.S. military operation, while First Lady Cilia Flores received a head wound.

Video recorded when the Maduro couple arrived at the Manhattan Federal Court in New York showed Maduro walking with a limp, his hands tied with cable ties, and Flores having a blackened eye. Flores’ attorney asked for further medical evaluations, indicating she may have sustained broken ribs. However, a U.S. official mentioned that the couple was already injured before interacting with Delta Force members, probably as a result of hitting an object during or before the deployment of flashbang grenades.

No American military deaths were reported, although seven service members were injured.

Venezuela conducted a funeral in the capital, Caracas, for soldiers who died in the operation that led to Maduro’s arrest. The event occurred just one day following interim President Delcy Rodríguez announcing a seven-day period of mourning for the deceased soldiers.

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