Venezuelans mourn dozens killed in U.S. raid that captured Maduro

Venezuelans are mourning dozens killed in a U.S. nighttime raid that captured President Nicolás Maduro and his wife and, American aircraft delivered them to a U.S. warship, The New York Times reported. Residents described blasts that leveled apartments in Catia La Mar; Wilfredo González said his 80-year-old aunt, Rosa Elena González, was pinned under a washing machine and died after the attack.

Venezuelan officials have offered varying tallies: Diosdado Cabello, the interior minister, said 100 people had been killed and at least as many wounded, while the Cuban government said 32 of the dead were Cuban service members. The Venezuelan government published obituaries for 23 service members, and The Times confirmed at least two civilian deaths.

The strikes prompted debate over legality and classification. Experts noted Congress had not authorized the operation and the U.N. secretary-general, António Guterres, said the U.S. had violated the U.N. charter. U.S. officials described the operation as a law enforcement action; the Defense Department said it was assessing damage and wrote it was "currently not aware of any civilian casualties." Authorities in Venezuela have not released an official, consolidated list of the dead, and communications from the government have mixed obfuscation and propaganda.

Families continued to bury relatives amid official funerals and public displays of mourning, while the U.S.

Key Topics

World, Nicolás Maduro, Venezuela, U.s. Special Forces, Diosdado Cabello, Cuba