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Venezuela’s interior minister says 100 died in US attack ousting Maduro

Venezuela says many of Maduro’s security were killed “in cold blood”

Reuters January 08, 2026 Less than a minute read

Supporters of Colombian President Gustavo Petro attend a rally called by the government to defend national sovereignty, following statements by US President Donald Trump suggesting a possible military intervention in Colombia, days after the U.S. struck Venezuela and captured its President Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores, in Cucuta, Colombia, January 7, 2026.PHOTO:REUTERS

Venezuela’s interior minister, Diosdado Cabello, said late on Wednesday that 100 people died in the US attack that removed President Nicolás Maduro from power on Saturday, the first official casualty estimate from Caracas.

The government has not previously released an overall death toll, but the Venezuelan army posted a list of 23 names of its dead. Venezuelan officials said a large part of Maduro’s security contingent was killed “in cold blood,” and Cuba has reported that 32 of its military and intelligence personnel stationed in Venezuela were killed.

Cabello said Maduro’s wife, Cilia Flores, who was detained alongside him, suffered a head injury during the US raid, and Maduro sustained a leg injury.

Venezuela’s interim President, Delcy Rodríguez, praised by Cabello as “courageous” during his weekly state television show, declared a week of mourning for members of the military killed in the operation.