Seven-day national mourning declared in Venezuela after US strike; acting president seeks Maduro’s return

Venezuela’s acting president Delcy Rodríguez has declared seven days of national mourning for members of the military and security forces killed during the recent US military operation in Caracas aimed at capturing President Nicolás Maduro. The announcement was made on Tuesday, with Rodríguez saying the period honours those who died defending the country during the US action.

Rodríguez, who was sworn in as interim president following Maduro’s capture, also reiterated her call for the return of Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, both of whom are currently in US custody and have pleaded not guilty to drug- and weapons-related charges in a New York federal court.

“It is a country of peace that was aggressed and attacked,” Rodríguez said, emphasising that Venezuela’s government remains the sole authority in the country and rejecting claims that any foreign power is governing Venezuela.

While the Venezuelan government has not released an official overall death toll, its attorney general has said investigators will look into what he described as “dozens” of deaths linked to the US operation. Cuban officials separately reported that 32 Cuban military and police personnel stationed in Venezuela were killed, and Cuba declared its own period of mourning.

Rodríguez’s remarks came amid ongoing US pressure on Caracas, including President Donald Trump’s announcement that interim Venezuelan authorities would transfer 30 million to 50 million barrels of sanctioned oil to the United States at market price, with revenue controlled by Trump to benefit both countries.

Despite sending this offer of cooperation over oil and energy, tensions remain high, with Rodríguez framing the US action as an attack on Venezuelan sovereignty and vowing to defend national interests even under intense external pressure.

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