Photos show a military funeral for Venezuelan soldiers killed during US operation

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Photos show a military funeral for Venezuelan soldiers killed during US operation

2026-01-08 10:53 Last Updated At：11:00

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Venezuela’s military held a funeral Wednesday for some of the soldiers killed during the U.S. operation that captured then-President Nicolás Maduro.

This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors.

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A kite flies over the Petare neighborhood of Caracas, Venezuela, Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

Relatives carry the coffin of Rosa Elena Gonzalez, 80, who died after her apartment was hit during a U.S. strike to capture President Nicolas Maduro, at the cemetery in La Guaira, Venezuela, Monday, Jan. 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

Funeral workers prepare the body of Rosa Elena Gonzalez, 80, who died after her apartment was hit during a U.S. strike to capture President Nicolas Maduro, in Catia La Mar, Venezuela, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

Relatives arrive by bus to the funeral of military killed in the U.S. military operattion to capture former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in Caracas, Venezuela, Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)

Cemetery workers lower the casket of a soldier killed in the U.S. raid to capture Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife into the ground in Caracas, Venezuela, Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)

Military personnel carry the coffins of soldiers killed in the U.S. capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, during a funeral in Caracas, Venezuela, Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)

Members of the military place the coffin of Venezuelan soldier Cesar Garcia, killed in a U.S. raid that captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, into a hearse after his wake in Caracas, Venezuela, Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

Relatives of soldiers killed in the U.S. raid to capture Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife mourn during the soldiers' funeral in Caracas, Venezuela, Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)

Ramona Palma, mother of Venezuelan soldier Cesar Garcia, mourns during his wake in Caracas, Venezuela, Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026, after Garcia was killed in a U.S. raid that captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

A relative places photographs on the casket of a soldier killed in the U.S. raid to capture Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife during a funeral in Caracas, Venezuela, Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)

A military cap rests on the coffin of Venezuelan soldier Cesar Garcia, who was killed in a U.S. raid that captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, during his wake in Caracas, Venezuela, Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

Military personnel stand by the coffins of soldiers killed in the U.S. capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife in Caracas, Venezuela, Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)

A military officer comforts Ramona Palma, the mother of Venezuelan soldier Cesar Garcia, who was killed in a U.S. raid that captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, after Garcia's wake in Caracas, Venezuela, Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

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A kite flies over the Petare neighborhood of Caracas, Venezuela, Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

Relatives carry the coffin of Rosa Elena Gonzalez, 80, who died after her apartment was hit during a U.S. strike to capture President Nicolas Maduro, at the cemetery in La Guaira, Venezuela, Monday, Jan. 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

Funeral workers prepare the body of Rosa Elena Gonzalez, 80, who died after her apartment was hit during a U.S. strike to capture President Nicolas Maduro, in Catia La Mar, Venezuela, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

Relatives arrive by bus to the funeral of military killed in the U.S. military operattion to capture former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in Caracas, Venezuela, Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)

Cemetery workers lower the casket of a soldier killed in the U.S. raid to capture Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife into the ground in Caracas, Venezuela, Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)

Military personnel carry the coffins of soldiers killed in the U.S. capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, during a funeral in Caracas, Venezuela, Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)

Members of the military place the coffin of Venezuelan soldier Cesar Garcia, killed in a U.S. raid that captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, into a hearse after his wake in Caracas, Venezuela, Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

Relatives of soldiers killed in the U.S. raid to capture Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife mourn during the soldiers' funeral in Caracas, Venezuela, Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)

Ramona Palma, mother of Venezuelan soldier Cesar Garcia, mourns during his wake in Caracas, Venezuela, Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026, after Garcia was killed in a U.S. raid that captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

A relative places photographs on the casket of a soldier killed in the U.S. raid to capture Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife during a funeral in Caracas, Venezuela, Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)

A military cap rests on the coffin of Venezuelan soldier Cesar Garcia, who was killed in a U.S. raid that captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, during his wake in Caracas, Venezuela, Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

Military personnel stand by the coffins of soldiers killed in the U.S. capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife in Caracas, Venezuela, Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)

A military officer comforts Ramona Palma, the mother of Venezuelan soldier Cesar Garcia, who was killed in a U.S. raid that captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, after Garcia's wake in Caracas, Venezuela, Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

Heat wave at French Open impacts the clay courts and has fans begging for water

PARIS (AP) — Tennis players at the French Open say they haven’t experienced conditions this hot at Roland Garros since the Paris Olympics.

And the 2024 Olympics were held in July and August.

Temperatures for the opening two days of the clay-court Grand Slam have soared to 33 degrees C (91 F) — far beyond normal for late May in the French capital. And it’s forecast to stay that way for the entire first week.

Besides making it uncomfortable for fans and players alike, the sultry conditions have also created faster conditions on court — changing the pace of the game.

“It is much different. Maybe it was that hot in the Olympics but the balls were different, so I wouldn’t treat it as the same tournament,” four-time French Open champion Iga Swiatek said after routing Emerson Jones 6-1, 6-2 in the first round on Monday.

Players have been putting bags of ice around their necks on changeovers to stay cool, while fans are refreshing themselves under sprinklers.

When workers water the clay courts between sets, they have taken to directing their hoses at spectators begging to be doused, too.

“I don’t remember the last time it was so hot at Roland Garros,” Russian-born Australian player Daria Kasatkina said after beating Zeynep Sonmez 6-4, 6-4. “Maybe one day. But we’re going to have it for the whole week.”

Kasatkina said the energy-sapping temperatures made for more up-and-down matches.

“You can suddenly just get out of the bench and feel that your focus dropped,” she said. “So this is a battle which you have to also win. … Whoever adapts better to today’s conditions gets it.”

Canadian player Gabriel Diallo said the heat was the main reason why he retired midway through his match against James Duckworth on Sunday.

Both Andrey Rublev and opponent Ignacio Buse called for the trainer on separate occasions during the second set of their match on Monday.

Buse took a medical timeout and had salts and minerals added to his water bottle as a stethoscope was placed on his chest. Rublev received treatment a few games later.

The French Open is usually cool compared to the heat at the Australian Open and U.S. Open.

But like in Australia and New York, the French Open has adopted an extreme weather policy.

If the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) — which takes into account temperature, humidity, sun, wind and other factors — reaches 30.1 degrees C (86 F) or higher, 10-minute cooling breaks can be installed between the second and third sets for women’s matches and between the third and fourth sets for men’s matches.

If the WBGT hits 32.2 C (90 F), play is suspended. It would require an air temperature of about 38 C (100 F) for play to be suspended.

Some players were embracing the hotter air.

“I’ve always preferred hot and lively conditions to chilly on a clay court, because I feel like I can bring a little bit more of my all-court tennis on this type of surface,” Australian player Alex de Minaur said after beating Toby Samuel 6-4, 6-4, 6-2.

“It’s easier to be a little bit more aggressive. The ball is jumping. I don’t necessarily have to use as much spin or heaviness, and I can let the conditions do the job for me. And it’s quite physical. I don’t mind the heat,” De Minaur added.

Same goes for American player Alex Michelsen, who eliminated Alexander Shevchenko in straight sets.

“It’s definitely good for us Americans,” Michelsen said. “Generally we’re big serve, big forehand, big ground game and like to play offense. When it’s super hot, the ball is moving through the air very fast. … I was so happy when I saw the forecast.”

AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis

Photos show a military funeral for Venezuelan soldiers killed during US operation

News

Photos show a military funeral for Venezuelan soldiers killed during US operation

A kite flies over the Petare neighborhood of Caracas, Venezuela, Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

A kite flies over the Petare neighborhood of Caracas, Venezuela, Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

Relatives carry the coffin of Rosa Elena Gonzalez, 80, who died after her apartment was hit during a U.S. strike to capture President Nicolas Maduro, at the cemetery in La Guaira, Venezuela, Monday, Jan. 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

Funeral workers prepare the body of Rosa Elena Gonzalez, 80, who died after her apartment was hit during a U.S. strike to capture President Nicolas Maduro, in Catia La Mar, Venezuela, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

Relatives arrive by bus to the funeral of military killed in the U.S. military operattion to capture former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in Caracas, Venezuela, Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)

Cemetery workers lower the casket of a soldier killed in the U.S. raid to capture Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife into the ground in Caracas, Venezuela, Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)

Military personnel carry the coffins of soldiers killed in the U.S. capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, during a funeral in Caracas, Venezuela, Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)

Members of the military place the coffin of Venezuelan soldier Cesar Garcia, killed in a U.S. raid that captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, into a hearse after his wake in Caracas, Venezuela, Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

Relatives of soldiers killed in the U.S. raid to capture Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife mourn during the soldiers' funeral in Caracas, Venezuela, Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)

Ramona Palma, mother of Venezuelan soldier Cesar Garcia, mourns during his wake in Caracas, Venezuela, Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026, after Garcia was killed in a U.S. raid that captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

A relative places photographs on the casket of a soldier killed in the U.S. raid to capture Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife during a funeral in Caracas, Venezuela, Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)

A military cap rests on the coffin of Venezuelan soldier Cesar Garcia, who was killed in a U.S. raid that captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, during his wake in Caracas, Venezuela, Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

Military personnel stand by the coffins of soldiers killed in the U.S. capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife in Caracas, Venezuela, Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)

A military officer comforts Ramona Palma, the mother of Venezuelan soldier Cesar Garcia, who was killed in a U.S. raid that captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, after Garcia's wake in Caracas, Venezuela, Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

A kite flies over the Petare neighborhood of Caracas, Venezuela, Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

A kite flies over the Petare neighborhood of Caracas, Venezuela, Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

Relatives carry the coffin of Rosa Elena Gonzalez, 80, who died after her apartment was hit during a U.S. strike to capture President Nicolas Maduro, at the cemetery in La Guaira, Venezuela, Monday, Jan. 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

Funeral workers prepare the body of Rosa Elena Gonzalez, 80, who died after her apartment was hit during a U.S. strike to capture President Nicolas Maduro, in Catia La Mar, Venezuela, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

Relatives arrive by bus to the funeral of military killed in the U.S. military operattion to capture former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in Caracas, Venezuela, Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)

Cemetery workers lower the casket of a soldier killed in the U.S. raid to capture Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife into the ground in Caracas, Venezuela, Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)

Military personnel carry the coffins of soldiers killed in the U.S. capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, during a funeral in Caracas, Venezuela, Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)

Members of the military place the coffin of Venezuelan soldier Cesar Garcia, killed in a U.S. raid that captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, into a hearse after his wake in Caracas, Venezuela, Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

Relatives of soldiers killed in the U.S. raid to capture Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife mourn during the soldiers' funeral in Caracas, Venezuela, Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)

Ramona Palma, mother of Venezuelan soldier Cesar Garcia, mourns during his wake in Caracas, Venezuela, Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026, after Garcia was killed in a U.S. raid that captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

A relative places photographs on the casket of a soldier killed in the U.S. raid to capture Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife during a funeral in Caracas, Venezuela, Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)

A military cap rests on the coffin of Venezuelan soldier Cesar Garcia, who was killed in a U.S. raid that captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, during his wake in Caracas, Venezuela, Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

Military personnel stand by the coffins of soldiers killed in the U.S. capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife in Caracas, Venezuela, Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)

A military officer comforts Ramona Palma, the mother of Venezuelan soldier Cesar Garcia, who was killed in a U.S. raid that captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, after Garcia's wake in Caracas, Venezuela, Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

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