Venezuelan Military Holds Funeral as Government Claims Over 100 Killed in U.S. Raid
Updated (2 articles)
U.S. forces capture Maduro and Flores in midnight raid The operation began in the early hours of January 3, 2026, when U.S. special‑operations teams seized former President Nicolás Maduro and First Lady Cilia Flores in Caracas and air‑lifted them to New York to face drug‑trafficking charges [1][2]. The raid triggered immediate lockdowns and a surge of armed pro‑government civilians in the capital [1]. U.S. officials framed the action as a step toward stabilizing Venezuela’s oil sector and prompting political transition [1].
Conflicting casualty figures emerge from Venezuelan officials Venezuelan military statements listed 24 officers killed during the raid [2], while Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello claimed at least 100 people dead and a similar number injured [2]. Cuba reported 32 of its own officers killed while serving in Venezuela, prompting a war‑crime investigation by Venezuelan prosecutors [2]. The disparity between the military’s count and the interior minister’s higher toll has not been independently verified [2].
Maduro and Flores enter U.S. court pleading not guilty Both leaders appeared before a Manhattan federal judge on January 5, 2026, and entered not‑guilty pleas to the drug‑trafficking indictment [2]. Their court appearances separate the legal battle from the domestic unrest ignited by the capture [2]. The pleas set the stage for a high‑profile trial that could influence future U.S.–Venezuela relations [2].
U.S. announces oversight of Venezuela’s oil exports The Trump administration declared its intention to manage Venezuela’s oil production and global sales, presenting the move as a means to stabilize the economy and support a political transition [1]. This policy announcement followed the capture and added an economic dimension to the already volatile security situation [1].
Public unrest and state‑organized mourning dominate Caracas Women’s marches demanding Maduro’s return, street performers in stilts dressed as the couple, and armed civilian patrols marked the city’s streets [1]. On January 7, 2026, the military held a formal funeral for fallen officers, complete with flag‑draped caskets, gun salutes, and a military orchestra, underscoring the human cost of the raid [2]. State television broadcast the ceremonies, while families waited outside prisons for promised releases [1].
Sources
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1.
AP: Tense week in Venezuela after Maduro capture by U.S. forces: Provides a day‑by‑day photo gallery of Caracas life after the raid, emphasizing public demonstrations, armed civilians, and the U.S. plan to control oil exports .
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2.
The Hindu: Venezuela buries officers after U.S. raid; government says at least 100 killed: Details the funeral for slain officers, reports divergent death tolls—including 24 Venezuelan officers, 100 total casualties, and 32 Cuban officers—and notes the not‑guilty pleas and war‑crime probe .
Timeline
Jan 3, 2026 – U.S. forces capture former President Nicolás Maduro and First Lady Cilia Flores in a night‑time raid, transport them to New York to face drug‑trafficking charges, and the operation kills at least 24 Venezuelan officers, according to the Venezuelan military [2].
Jan 3, 2026 – Cuba reports that 32 of its military and police officers serving in Venezuela are killed in the same raid, prompting Venezuela’s attorney general to open a war‑crime investigation [2].
Jan 5, 2026 – Maduro and Cilia Flores appear before a U.S. federal court, enter not‑guilty pleas to the drug‑trafficking indictment, and set the stage for a legal battle separate from the domestic turmoil in Caracas [2].
Jan 7, 2026 – Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello tells state television that “at least 100 people were killed and roughly as many injured” during the U.S. operation, a figure that far exceeds the military’s earlier count and fuels accusations of a mass‑casualty assault [2].
Jan 7, 2026 – A military funeral in Caracas honors dozens of soldiers killed in the raid, with flag‑draped caskets, a gun salute, and National Guard patrols, while families march behind the coffins in a state‑ordered public mourning [2].
Jan 7, 2026 – Protesters stage women’s marches demanding Maduro’s return, and performers on stilts dress as the former president and his wife, illustrating the polarized public response to the capture [1].
Jan 8, 2026 – Venezuelan authorities bury additional officers killed in the raid, reinforcing the government’s narrative of a violent foreign incursion and prompting calls for international accountability [2].
Jan 10, 2026 – The Trump administration announces it will oversee Venezuela’s oil exports and steer global sales, framing the move as a step to stabilize the country and push a political transition, while daily life in Caracas remains marked by armed civilians, prison waits, and funerals [1].
2026 onward – The United States plans to maintain control over Venezuelan oil flows and use the sector to influence the country’s political future, a policy that will shape regional energy markets and diplomatic relations throughout the year [1].