It described the dead as members of its armed forces and intelligence agencies were killed "in combat actions", declaring two days of national mourning. The armed forces added the Cubans "fell, after fierce resistance, in direct combat against the attackers or as a result of bombardments of installations" Cuba, a long-standing ally of Venezuela, has for years supplied Maduro with his personal security detail and has personnel throughout the Venezuelan military.

Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel said the country had been providing protection to Maduro and his wife "at the request" of Venezuela. US spies had been monitoring Maduro's movements for months before US forces struck, according to US General Dan Caine.

Gen Caine said that they had learned where the former leader moved, lived, travelled, ate, and worked. The New York Times reported that the CIA had also recruited a "Venezuelan source" who it says informed the Americans of Maduro's exact location. Many of those killed are believed to have been part of Maduro's close security detail, who were with him at the time. Venezuela has not confirmed how many people were killed, but its armed forces have said that a "large part" of Maduro's security team were among the casualties. An official statement from the Cuban government read: "Our compatriots fulfilled their duty with dignity and heroism". The total death toll - according to an unnamed Venezuelan official cited by the New York Times - stood at 80 and was expected to rise. BBC News has not independently verified that report. (BBC)