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

Dozens of Venezuelans are mourning relatives killed in a nighttime U.S. raid that captured President Nicolás Maduro and, American officials said, delivered him and his wife to a U.S. warship. The strikes shattered homes and prompted funerals for service members and civilians. The Venezuelan government has not released an official list of the dead; Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello said 100 people had been killed and at least as many wounded, the Cuban government said 32 of those killed were Cuban citizens, and the Venezuelan government published obituaries for 23 service members.

The New York Times was able to confirm at least two civilian deaths and reported accounts of victims including an 80-year-old woman found pinned under a washing machine and a 30-year-old first sergeant honored in a mass funeral. The operation has prompted legal and political debate.

Some experts questioned its legality because Congress did not authorize it and no war had been declared; U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres said the Trump administration had violated the U.N. charter. U.S. officials characterized the attack as a law enforcement operation, and the Defense Department said it was conducting an assessment, adding that "we are currently not aware of any civilian casualties" and that "every strike was precisely planned" to achieve operational objectives.

Key Topics

World, Nicolas Maduro, Venezuela, Us Special Forces, Catia La Mar, Diosdado Cabello