Venezuela: "100, including civilians, killed in barbaric U.S. attack"

"Maduro and his wife injured in U.S. military raid"

The Venezuelan government said 100 people, including civilians, were killed as a result of a U.S. operation to arrest Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.

On the 7th (local time), Venezuelan Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello said on state television that "Venezuela was the victim of a barbaric attack," adding that "so far, 100 people have died and a similar number have been injured."

He continued, claiming that "civilians, including women who were in their homes, died from the impact of powerful bombs" and that "innocent people were killed."

While not disclosing an exact tally of civilian casualties, Cabello stressed that most of the victims were young.

This is the first time the Venezuelan government has directly announced the number of victims of a U.S. military operation. Previously, Venezuela’s military authorities posted only the names of 23 soldiers who were killed.

According to Venezuelan officials, a large portion of President Maduro’s security detail was shot dead. The Cuban government had previously tallied that 32 of its military and intelligence personnel tasked with protecting Maduro were killed.

The U.S. military, by contrast, reportedly had no fatalities and only seven wounded.

Cabello said that during the raid President Maduro injured his leg and First Lady Cilia Flores also suffered a head wound.

Maduro was seen limping when he appeared in federal court on the 5th, and Flores was also confirmed to have bruising on her face.

A U.S. official has said Maduro and his wife were already injured before they came into contact with Delta Force operatives.

Oh Se-seong, Hankyung.com reporter sesung@hankyung.com