Cuba's President asserts that the U.S. attack against Venezuela was "vile and criminal"

Havana.- Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel said on Tuesday that the United States' attack on Venezuela, which culminated in the capture of that country's president, Nicolás Maduro, and his wife, Cilia Flores, was "vile and criminal" and reaffirmed the insular government's "loyalty" to Chavismo.

Díaz-Canel visited the South American embassy in Havana, where he signed the book of condolences for the 100 people -including 32 Cuban military personnel- who died during the US military operation, as highlighted by the Cuban Presidency on social media. In the book, the island leader stated that "faced with the threats of the Yankee empire, we reaffirm our loyalty to the legacy of our forefathers, of Fidel (Castro) and of (Hugo) Chávez.

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Cuba Rejects Death of Its Military Personnel in Venezuela

«We express our genuine and heartfelt condolences, and the revolutionary tribute to the women and men of Venezuela and to the 32 Cuban combatants who offered their lives in defense of Venezuela, in defense of Cuba, in defense of Latin America and the Caribbean», he wrote. Along with the island's leader, other high-ranking officials such as the President of Parliament, Esteban Lazo, and the Foreign Minister, Bruno Rodríguez, also expressed their condolences.

A military operation carried out on January 3 by United States forces in Caracas to capture Maduro and Flores left at least 100 dead, including 24 Venezuelan soldiers and 32 Cuban military personnel, according to the Ministry of the Interior of the South American country.

«A staunch resistance in direct combat against the attackers»

The day after the attacks against Venezuela, the island Executive confirmed that 32 Cuban soldiers died in "combat actions" after "fierce resistance in direct combat against the attackers or as a result of the bombings."

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The Cuban government reported the day before that the bodies of the 32 "combatants" will arrive in Havana next Thursday, the 15th, to receive a posthumous tribute.

Cuba has described the US military attack on Caracas as "unacceptable and barbaric" and has insisted on reiterating its "support and solidarity with the Venezuelan people and government" as well as demanding the release of President Maduro and his wife.

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Havana and Caracas have been close allies politically and economically, and since the year 2000 they have maintained an agreement whereby the island has received Venezuelan crude oil and in exchange for the provision of professional services, mainly doctors, teachers and also military personnel.