The widow of Adrián Pérez Beades, a Cuban soldier who perished in Venezuela during the operation to capture dictator Nicolás Maduro, shared details of his tragic death.
In an interview with the newspaper El Artemiseño, she explained that he was unaware of the impending attack by U.S. forces, as he transitioned directly from sleep to death.
During the early hours of January 3rd, while sleeping, a bomb struck the house where he was stationed with 11 other soldiers. The blast threw his lifeless body approximately 300 meters from the site.
Pérez Beades, a 34-year-old captain in the FAR, had been in the South American nation for over a year.
His story starkly contrasts with the narrative presented by Miguel Díaz-Canel. During a tribute at the Anti-Imperialist Tribune, Díaz-Canel claimed that the 32 Cuban soldiers "sacrificed their lives" in a fight "to the last bullet," portraying the deceased as paragons of courage and sacrifice.
However, upon returning to Cuba, officer Pedro Yadín Domínguez, who was wounded in the attack, shared a different account. He revealed that many of the Cuban casualties were resting and "had very little weaponry."
Despite the genuine grief of families and communities, the Cuban regime has attempted to recast the tragedy as an act of heroism.
Beneath the state's rhetoric, these soldiers were neither defending their homeland nor engaged in a humanitarian mission; they were in Caracas to support Maduro's regime in direct security roles. This is a fact that Havana denied for years, now undeniably confirmed by recent events.
The operation unveiled the direct involvement of Cuban officers in safeguarding the chavista leadership, highlighting the true extent of their role in defending a foreign dictatorship, far from the heroic saga the official discourse seeks to portray.
The posthumous homage, filled with patriotic rhetoric, stands in stark contrast to the actual tragedy faced by families who lost sons and husbands in a mission chosen by the Cuban state to uphold a foreign and forcibly imposed power.
Insights on Cuban Military Involvement in Venezuela
What were the circumstances of Adrián Pérez Beades' death?
Adrián Pérez Beades died during an attack by U.S. forces while he was asleep, with a bomb explosion throwing his body 300 meters from where he was stationed.
What was the Cuban regime's narrative about the soldiers' deaths?
Cuban leader Miguel Díaz-Canel portrayed the soldiers' deaths as acts of valor, claiming they fought "to the last bullet," although testimonies suggest they were mostly unarmed and resting at the time.
Why were Cuban soldiers in Venezuela?
Cuban soldiers were in Venezuela to support Nicolás Maduro's regime in security-related roles, a fact previously denied by Havana but confirmed by recent events.