Cuba has said that 32 of its military and police officers were killed during a US military operation in Venezuela over the weekend, marking the first official confirmation of the casualties by the Cuban government.

A statement read on Cuban state television on Sunday night said the officers were deployed in Venezuela as part of a mission requested by the Venezuelan government. However, it did not specify the nature of their assignment. Cuba is a long-time ally of Venezuela and has for years sent military and police personnel to assist the South American country in various operations.

US President Donald Trump acknowledged the deaths while speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday night as he returned to Washington from Florida. "A lot of Cubans were killed yesterday," Trump said. "There was a lot of death on the other side. No death on our side."

The US operation on Saturday resulted in the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, who were taken into custody to face prosecution under an indictment accusing them of involvement in a narco-terrorism conspiracy.

Cuba announced two days of national mourning for the officers who were killed. According to the official statement, the officers "fulfilled their duty with dignity and heroism" and died after intense resistance in direct combat with the attackers or as a result of bombings on the facilities where they were stationed.

Sun News/ra