The U.S. operation to seize Nicolás Maduro killed 55 Venezuelan and Cuban military and security personnel—23 Venezuelan and 32 Cuban—according to official tallies. Maduro and his wife were flown to New York, pleaded not guilty to drug-trafficking and related charges, and his former deputy Delcy Rodríguez was sworn in as interim president. Rodríguez must balance Washington's demands—including US access to Venezuelan oil—with retaining support from Maduro loyalists; press detentions and opposition criticism have underscored tensions. Venezuelan law requires elections within 30 days after the president is formally declared absent.
US Raid Kills 55 Venezuelan and Cuban Forces; Maduro Captured and Flown to New York
Venezuela's interim president Delcy Rodriguez faces a delicate balancing act in appeasing Washington and Maduro's political supporters (Marcelo Garcia)(Marcelo Garcia/Miraflores press office/AFP)
U.S. forces killed a total of 55 Venezuelan and Cuban military and security personnel during a dramatic operation to seize Nicolás Maduro, official tallies released by Caracas and Havana said on Tuesday.
In its first public acknowledgement of losses, Venezuela's armed forces reported that 23 service members died in the U.S. strikes and follow-up operations on Saturday that resulted in Maduro's removal from power. Caracas has not yet provided an official account of civilian casualties.
Cuba earlier confirmed that 32 members of its armed forces and Interior Ministry security personnel deployed in Caracas were killed. The Cuban list of dead ranged in age from 26 to 67 and included two colonels and one lieutenant colonel.
Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López said many of the Cuban fatalities are believed to have been part of Maduro's personal security detail, which was largely neutralized during the operation.
The assault began with air strikes against military targets and culminated in U.S. special operations forces inserting by helicopter to seize Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, from a compound. The couple were subsequently transported to New York, where they appeared in court on Monday and pleaded not guilty to drug-trafficking and related charges.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum urged the United States to ensure Maduro receives a "fair trial," while U.S. authorities have proceeded with the charges filed in federal court.
Interim President's Challenges
Hours after the court appearance, Maduro's former vice president, Delcy Rodríguez, was sworn in as interim president. U.S. President Donald Trump said he is prepared to work with Rodríguez provided she meets U.S. demands, including granting American companies access to Venezuela's substantial oil reserves.
Rodríguez faces the difficult task of balancing Washington's conditions with the need to retain support from Maduro loyalists. She has so far kept key figures in place: Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello and Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López remain in their positions, both widely seen as powerful actors in Venezuela's security apparatus.
Press Freedom and Opposition Reaction
A journalists' union said 14 journalists and media workers—most from foreign outlets—were detained while covering Rodríguez's inauguration at the national assembly; two additional foreign journalists were briefly detained near the Colombian border. All those detained were later released.
Opposition leader María Corina Machado, who has been excluded by Washington from a post-Maduro role, sharply criticized Rodríguez on Fox News, accusing her of being an architect of torture, persecution, corruption and narcotrafficking and of close ties to Russia, China and Iran. Machado said she expects to win overwhelmingly in free elections.
Outlook and Legal Timeline
A retired Venezuelan general suggested Rodríguez may move to open the country to U.S. oil and mining firms, restore diplomatic ties severed by Maduro in 2019, and consider releasing political prisoners to ease international criticism of Venezuela's human rights record.
Trump described Maduro as a violent leader who presided over torture—comments he repeated while describing the regime's abuses. Venezuelan constitutional rules require elections within 30 days after the president is formally declared absent, a timetable that could shape a rapid and contentious political transition.
At present, official casualty figures are limited to military and security personnel; Caracas has not released a complete civilian casualty count. The situation on the ground remains fluid, and international scrutiny of the legal process and human rights conditions is likely to intensify.
