The Cuban government announced that 32 of its nationals were killed during a US operation to capture Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro. The 32 dead were members of Cuba’s armed forces and intelligence, according to the government. Cuba declared two days of national mourning for the fallen. Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel said they were protecting Maduro and his wife “at the request” of Venezuela. An official statement said, “Our compatriots fulfilled their duty with dignity and heroism and fell, after fierce resistance, in direct combat against the attackers or as a result of bombings on the facilities.” Venezuela has not confirmed the total death toll from the US raid on Maduro’s compound in Caracas on Saturday. The New York Times, quoting a Venezuelan official, reported that 80 people died, but this hasn’t been independently verified. Questions have now arisen about US plans for Cuba, a longtime adversary like Venezuela. On Sunday, US President Donald Trump told reporters, “I don’t think we need any action. Looks like it’s going down. It’s going down for the count.” US Secretary of State Marco Rubio described Cuba as a “disaster” run by “incompetent, senile men.” The Trump administration has maintained and tightened sanctions on Cuba during its term. In July last year, Trump imposed stricter restrictions, reversing previous easing, and vowed to end “economic practices that disproportionately benefit the Cuban government, military, intelligence, or security agencies at the expense of the Cuban people.” The economic embargo on Cuba has lasted since 1962 despite international calls to end it.