Overview
- The remains will arrive January 15 for military honors at José Martí International Airport, followed by public viewing at MINFAR and provincial burials the next day.
- Cuba has instituted a nationwide mourning protocol with local tributes and a January 16 gathering at Havana’s Tribuna Antiimperialista.
- Cuban and Venezuelan officials attribute the deaths to a U.S. operation in Venezuela, with Caracas reporting up to 100 fatalities.
- The Cuban military presence in Venezuela aligns with a 2022 UN fact‑finding report that documented Cuban advising of Venezuelan military intelligence since 2006.
- U.S. President Donald Trump has warned Cuba about continued reliance on Venezuelan oil and funds tied to its security relationship with Caracas.