The helicopter that led the operation to capture Venezuela’s authoritarian President Nicolas Maduro got hit but managed to remain flyable, avoiding further danger to U.S. troops, according to a new report.
The New York Times reported that the aircraft in question was a twin-rotor MH-47 Chinook. The flight leader, who also planned the mission and was piloting the helicopter, was struck three times in the leg, the outlet added, citing current and former U.S. officials.
“Failure of one component of this well-oiled machine would have endangered the entire mission,” said Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, after the mission ended. The helicopter managed to land, let the commandos execute their part of the mission and land back safely on the USS Iwo Jima off the Venezuelan coast.
More than 80 commandos entered Maduro’s compound and after a firefight with his security detail, they opened a door leading to his bedroom, where he was captured along with his wife Cilia Flores as they tried to escape into a reinforced room.
Fresh helicopters then returned the commandos and those captured to the USS Iwo Jima, avoiding hostile fire on their way out.
The outlet added that the flight leader, who has not been identified for security reasons, suffered serious injuries and is recovering at a Texas hospital along with another soldier. Five others were treated for their injuries and are back on duty.
“We had a lot of boots on the ground, but it was amazing. And think of it, nobody was killed,” President Donald Trump said on Tuesday when addressing the raid.
“And on the other side, a lot of people were killed. Unfortunately, I say that, soldiers, Cubans, mostly Cubans, but many, many killed,” he added. Cuba announced that 32 of its citizens were killed during the operation while carrying out missions on behalf of the Cuban Armed Forces and the Interior Ministry.
“Faithful to their responsibilities for security and defense, our compatriots honorably and heroically fulfilled their duty and fell after fierce resistance in direct combat against the attackers or as a result of bombardments of the facilities,” Havana said.
Cuba described the U.S. strikes as a criminal act of aggression and state terrorism and said the government would honor those who were killed.
A senior Venezuelan official who spoke on the condition of anonymity told The New York Times that the death toll was at least 80 and included members of the military, civilians and a significant portion of Maduro’s security team. Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello said on Thursday that the figure was about 100.
Originally published on Latin Times
