Venezuela’s Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello has said that 100 people were killed during a U.S. military operation that removed President Nicolás Maduro from power, marking the first time Caracas has provided a casualty estimate for the assault.
Cabello’s remarks, made late Wednesday, come after days of speculation about the human cost of the U.S. action.
The Venezuelan government had not previously given an official death toll. Earlier, the Venezuelan army published a list of 23 security personnel killed, while Cuban officials said 32 members of their military and intelligence services stationed in Venezuela were also killed during the operation.
According to Cabello, Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores—who was detained alongside him—sustained injuries during the raid. Flores suffered a head injury, and Maduro was wounded in the leg.
Interim President Delcy Rodríguez, whom Cabello praised as “courageous,” has declared a week of mourning to honour members of Venezuela’s military who died in the operation.
This announcement deepens tensions following the highly controversial U.S. assault in Caracas, which drew international attention and sparked widespread debate about the legality and human toll of the mission.
