Venezuelan Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello said that 100 people were killed in the US attack that led to President Nicolas Maduro's arrest. In a late speech on January 7, Mr. Cabello confirmed that this was the first time Caracas had released an official figure on the number of deaths in this campaign.
Previously, Venezuela had not released general statistics on casualties. The country's military only posted a list of 23 soldiers killed among its forces. Venezuelan officials affirmed that a large part of the security team protecting President Maduro was killed "coldly" during the attack.
Information from Cuba also said that members of the country's army and intelligence agencies in Venezuela were killed in the above campaign. These statements reinforce the assessment that the level of human toll far exceeds what was previously revealed.
Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello said that Ms. Cilia Flores, Mr. Maduro's wife, was injured in the head in the US raid, when she was arrested with her husband. According to Mr. Cabello, Mr. Maduro himself was also injured in the leg during the attack and arrest.
In a weekly television program on the national channel, Mr. Cabello praised the members of the Venezuelan security forces and army for being "brave". He emphasized their sacrifice in the context of the country experiencing serious political and security turmoil.
Previously, on January 6, the Venezuelan government declared a week of national mourning to commemorate the soldiers killed in the raid. This decision was made as an official move to recognize the loss of life and express gratitude to the forces lost in the military campaign leading to the collapse of President Maduro's government.
