• Cuba honors 32 soldiers killed during a US military strike in Venezuela.
• The soldiers were part of a security detail for Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
• Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel and former leader Raúl Castro received the remains with national ceremonies.
• Tensions between the US and Cuba have escalated following the attack and threats of oil cutoffs.
• Public demonstrations are planned in response to US actions and in memory of the fallen soldiers.

Cuba held a somber tribute for 32 of its soldiers, who were killed during a US military strike in Venezuela earlier this month. The remains, adorned in Cuban flags, arrived at Havana's international airport and were received with military honors, attended by President Miguel Díaz-Canel and former President Raúl Castro, emphasizing the soldiers' role as national heroes. President Díaz-Canel stated, "They fell defending the sovereignty of a sister nation," declaring their sacrifice as emblematic of Cuba's commitment to its allies, according to BBC, Los Angeles Times, Al Jazeera, and Reuters.

During the ceremony, Interior Minister General Lázaro Alberto Álvarez honored the fallen, asserting that they "fought to the last bullet." He emphasized that the dignity of the Cuban people is not for sale to imperialism, referencing the power dynamics with the US. The body procession was lined with thousands of Cubans paying their respects, reinforcing national unity amidst rising tensions with Washington as President Donald Trump has threatened to cut off oil supplies from Venezuela to Cuba, according to BBC, Los Angeles Times, Al Jazeera, and Reuters.

The preparations for the ceremonies reflect the deep sentiment surrounding the incident, with many Cubans expressing despair over the loss of their soldiers. Analyst Carlos Alzugaray noted that although the soldiers' deaths have sparked grief, many citizens view them as "martyrs" in the ongoing fight against US interventions. A large demonstration is planned outside the US Embassy as a show of solidarity and defiance, continuing the historical theme of protest against American foreign policy, according to BBC, Los Angeles Times, Al Jazeera, and Reuters.