The Cuban Government says 32 of its nationals were killed during the US operation to seize Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) on Monday.
It described the dead as members of its armed forces and intelligence agencies, 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.
United States spies had been monitoring Maduro’s movements for months before US forces struck, according to US General Dan Caine.
Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel (right) shakes hands with Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro at the Revolution Palace in Havana, Cuba, on Saturday. [Photo/Agencies]