A colonel from Cuba's Revolutionary Armed Forces, injured during the January 3 operation in Caracas that resulted in the capture of Nicolás Maduro, broke his silence on Cuban state television this Thursday. His testimony unveiled crucial insights into the Cuban military's presence in Venezuela, providing a perspective beyond the official narrative.
Pedro Yadín Domínguez, the colonel in question, appeared on Canal Caribe and confirmed he was in Caracas on a mission when the attack occurred. He recounted that he and fellow Cuban soldiers were resting when they were caught off guard by a large-scale aerial operation. “The attack led to the death of 11 of my comrades at that location,” he stated, describing the assault as “completely disproportionate.”
Domínguez emphasized the limited armament of his group, whose role was to support presidential security. “We barely had any weapons,” he mentioned, detailing that they were attacked with “planes, bombs, drones, unmanned aircraft, and helicopters that indiscriminately strafed the area.” According to him, the intent was unmistakable: “Leave no one alive.”
The colonel acknowledged sustaining injuries and undergoing surgery at a Venezuelan military hospital, where he claimed to have received care and support from local armed forces. “I suffered some injuries as a result of this aggression,” he noted, showing visible signs of physical recovery.
Despite the TV report branding the operation as an “imperialist aggression,” the officer's account confirms a fact that the Cuban government usually handles with caution: the direct involvement of Cuban officers in safeguarding Venezuela’s political power. Domínguez candidly explained their presence was “in support of the president's security tasks.”
He also spoke about the emotional toll of the event and his connection to those who perished. “You feel distressed, it’s painful to lose comrades with whom we worked closely for several months,” he stated, justifying his participation in a posthumous tribute held in Havana.
In his closing remarks, Domínguez reaffirmed his loyalty to the official discourse, yet his words hinted at the episode's magnitude and the human cost of a political alliance extending beyond rhetoric. “We are committed to the revolution and to doing whatever needs to be done,” he declared.
While state television celebrated the heroism and sacrifice, the wounded colonel’s testimony offers one of the clearest confirmations of the extent of Cuban involvement in the Venezuelan crisis and how decisions made far from the Island continue to claim Cuban lives.
Understanding Cuban Involvement in Venezuela
What was the role of Cuban military personnel in Venezuela?
Cuban military personnel were involved in supporting the security of the Venezuelan president, as confirmed by Colonel Pedro Yadín Domínguez.
How did Colonel Domínguez describe the attack in Caracas?
Colonel Domínguez described the attack as a disproportionate assault involving planes, bombs, drones, and helicopters that resulted in the death of 11 Cuban soldiers.
What was the Cuban government's stance on the operation?
The Cuban government branded the operation as an "imperialist aggression," while the colonel's testimony provided a more nuanced view of the events.