Cuba on Thursday welcomed home the remains of 32 soldiers killed during U.S. military action in Venezuela earlier this month, marking the loss with a solemn state ceremony.
On January 3, the United States launched military action against Venezuela, resulting in the capture of President Nicolas Maduro and his wife.
Early on Thursday morning, a special aircraft carrying the remains landed at Jose Marti International Airport in Havana. Members of Cuba's Revolutionary Armed Forces carried flag-draped coffins from the plane and placed them onto six military vehicles, as a ceremonial gun salute honored the fallen.
Cuban revolutionary leader Raul Castro, First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba and President Miguel Diaz-Canel, and other senior officials attended the ceremony and paid their tributes.
Speaking at the airport, Minister of the Interior, Lazaro Alberto Alvarez Casas praised the fallen soldiers for their bravery, loyalty, and selfless sacrifice.
Escorted by military vehicles, the motorcade later departed the airport and proceeded to the headquarters of the Revolutionary Armed Forces Ministry. Thousands of people lined the streets of Havana to honor the fallen.
At the ministry building, the coffins were placed for mourning ceremonies. Family members of the deceased were the first to bid farewell, after which the hall was opened to the public.
Cuban citizens stood quietly, waiting their turn to pay final respects to what many described as national heroes.
According to official arrangements, Cuba will hold a mass rally and march on Friday morning. Later in the day, the remains will be escorted back to the soldiers' hometowns for burial.
"These 32 heroes have shown the Americans the courage of the Cuban people. They have shown our resistance. If they dare to attack the Cuban people, they will face even stronger resistance," said Rolando Sanchez, Cuban citizen attending the memorial.
Cuba receives remains of 32 soldiers from U.S. Venezuela conflict
