A Cuban soldier who was present in Venezuela during the January 3 operation that led to the capture of Nicolás Maduro has recounted the harrowing task of retrieving the bodies of fallen comrades after the attack.
“There was no assistance for that, but not a single body was left behind,” Yohandris Varona Torres told the Camagüey-based newspaper Adelante. He added that they preserved the bodies in their own quarters. “I can't describe the pain. At least no one was left in Venezuela,” he noted.
Varona, originally from Vertientes, had been on a mission in the South American country for just over two months when the attack and subsequent extraction of Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, by elements of Delta Force occurred. This unit is one of the most secretive and lethal within the U.S. military, known for counterterrorism and high-value target captures.
According to his account, the group was caught off guard while on duty and had to respond with significantly inferior weaponry.
“I watched them all fall, and I carried each one,” the soldier stated. His account aligns with recent statements made by Colonel Pedro Yadín Domínguez, who was injured during the same operation. Domínguez admitted on state television that Cuban soldiers were in Venezuela providing presidential security support.
Domínguez described the attack as “completely disproportionate,” citing the use of aircraft, drones, and helicopters against a group with limited weaponry.
In the aftermath, official media outlets have begun to share survivor testimonies and tributes to the fallen Cuban soldiers. Varona asserted that the experience was the most intense moment in his over twenty years of service, expressing his continued commitment to following the orders of the Cuban state.
The recently published accounts reveal the human cost of a presence that was officially denied for years, now visible through the pain of those who were there, beyond rhetoric and slogans.
Insights into the Operation in Venezuela
What was the objective of the operation in Venezuela?
The operation aimed to capture Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, which was successfully conducted by the U.S. Delta Force.
Who was Yohandris Varona Torres?
Yohandris Varona Torres is a Cuban soldier who was present during the operation in Venezuela and recounted the experience of retrieving the bodies of his fallen comrades.
How did the Cuban military respond to the attack?
The Cuban military responded with a significantly inferior arsenal compared to the advanced weaponry used in the attack, which included drones and helicopters.