CARACAS – On Wednesday, a solemn mass funeral was held by Venezuela’s military in the capital city, as the nation began to lay to rest dozens of soldiers who were killed during a U.S. operation over the weekend aimed at capturing former President Nicolás Maduro.

Wooden caskets draped in the Venezuelan flag were carried solemnly past lines of uniformed officers. The somber notes of music from a nearby church in Caracas blended with the melodies of a military orchestra, creating a poignant backdrop as crowds of families and soldiers followed the procession of caskets.

The sound of gunfire from a military salute echoed across the state-owned cemetery, located in a low-income district on the south side of the city, as the caskets were gently laid into the ground. Earlier, emotional scenes unfolded during the wake as families wept and held each other close beside the caskets.

“Thank you for allowing them to pursue a military career,” said Rafael Murillo, a military commander, addressing the grieving families gathered around him.

Prior to the ceremony, armed National Guard members were visible in certain areas, ensuring security, while the families completed the necessary paperwork for the burials.

At least 24 Venezuelan security officers were killed in the dead-of-night U.S. military operation over the weekend to capture Maduro and spirit him to the United States to face drug charges, according to Venezuela’s military.

Venezuela’s Attorney General Tarek William Saab said “dozens” of officers and civilians were killed and that prosecutors would investigate the deaths in what he described as a “war crime.” He didn’t specify if the estimate was specifically referring to Venezuelans.

Cuba’s government on Sunday announced that 32 Cuban military and police officers working in Venezuela had died in the operation, prompting two days of mourning on the Caribbean island.

“Their spilled blood does not cry out for vengeance, but for justice and strength,” the Venezuelan military wrote in an Instagram post on Monday. “It reaffirms our unwavering oath not to rest until we rescue our legitimate President, completely dismantle the terrorist groups operating from abroad, and ensure that events such as these never again sully our sovereign soil.”

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Associated Press reporter Megan Janetsky contributed to this report from Mexico City.