Key Facts
• On January 6, Venezuela’s Interim President Delcy Rodríguez declared 7 days of mourning.
• Mourning honors young men and women who died defending Venezuela and President Nicolás Maduro.
• Rodríguez called for the return of Maduro and his wife, detained in Brooklyn Metropolitan Detention Center.
• Maduro couple appeared in federal court on January 5, pleading not guilty to drug and weapons charges.
• Rodríguez stated Venezuela is peaceful but was attacked and invaded; denied being in a state of war.
• Venezuelan government has not disclosed casualty numbers from the U.S. attack.
• Venezuela’s Attorney General appointed three prosecutors to investigate dozens of deaths.
• Cuban government reported 32 Cuban nationals killed in the U.S. operation.
Summary
On January 6, 2026, Venezuela’s Interim President Delcy Rodríguez announced a seven-day mourning period following a U.S. attack in Caracas that resulted in multiple casualties. She paid tribute to the young Venezuelans who sacrificed their lives defending the nation and President Nicolás Maduro. Rodríguez also demanded the return of Maduro and his wife, currently detained in New York and facing drug and weapons charges, which they deny. While Venezuela denies being in a state of war, it acknowledges being attacked and invaded. The government has not released official casualty figures, but the Attorney General has assigned prosecutors to investigate the deaths, reportedly numbering in the dozens. Additionally, Cuba confirmed that 32 Cuban citizens died during the U.S. operation, highlighting the regional impact of the incident.
