47 Venezuelan soldiers, 32 Cubans, and 4 civilians were the fatal victims included in the count. The fallen will be honored with a commemorative monument, with the location yet to be confirmed. Photo: Venezolana de Televisión
Guacamaya, January 16, 2026. The Vice President for Political Sovereignty, Security, and Peace, and Minister of Defense, General-in-Chief Vladimir Padrino López, confirmed this Friday the official death toll from the U.S. military operation that culminated in the capture of Nicolás Maduro and Cilia Flores in Caracas on January 3.
In his address broadcast by Venezolana de Televisión, Padrino López reported a total of 83 deaths, including 47 Venezuelan military personnel and 32 Cubans, as well as at least 112 injured individuals who later died.
Victim Details
During a medal-awarding ceremony for military and civilian personnel held this afternoon, Padrino López specified that among the 47 fallen members of the Bolivarian National Armed Forces (FANB), nine were women. He emphasized the victims’ sacrifice, describing it as an act of defending the homeland during the bombing of Caracas and surrounding areas.“Our men of the National Armed Forces have given their lives to defend the homeland, to defend the people, to defend Venezuela,” the minister declared.
The 32 Cubans brought the total to 83. Although their specific roles were not detailed, they were honored as “brothers in humanity” and “comrades” who stood alongside Venezuelan officials. Their remains were repatriated to Havana and received by Cuban Interior Minister Lázaro Alberto Álvarez Casas at the island’s capital airport.
The remaining four fatalities, bringing the total from 79 (47+32) to 83, were Venezuelan civilians who died as a result of the aggression, according to the official breakdown of “civilian and military” casualties. Another 112 individuals were injured and received appropriate medical attention, the official added.
“To the families of our martyrs, infinite thanks, because they gave us those young people with the firm conviction and desire to defend our homeland—and they succeeded,” said Padrino López.
He also announced the formation of a commission to provide social and economic support to the families, as instructed by acting president Delcy Rodríguez. Additionally, he confirmed plans to erect a national monument in honor of the fallen, with its “best location” currently under consideration.
Strategic Review of the FANB
Padrino López announced a “review and adjustment” of the Ayacucho Plan (2024–2030) to develop the FANB in light of the “new geopolitical situation” following the attack. The directive aims to pave the way for consolidating a military force that ensures constitutional order.
“We are forging a path within the Ayacucho Plan to develop our Armed Forces, now with elements to review, with a reality that demands revision and adjustment,” he stated.
Finally, Padrino López demanded the release of Maduro and Flores, currently detained in New York on narcoterrorism charges, and reaffirmed the FANB’s commitment to stability under Delcy Rodríguez.
