After surviving ‘683 assassination attempts’ Fidel Castro dies at 90

Fidel Castro, former Cuban president and leader of the Cuban communist revolution, is dead.

According to Fabian Escalante, chief of Cuban Intelligence, Castro, who led the nation as president for 32 years and prime minister for 17 years, survived 683 assassination attempts in his lifetime.

Castro’s death was announced on Saturday morning by his brother, Raul Castro, who is also the current president of the Caribbean island nation.

“At 10.29 in the night, the chief commander of the Cuban revolution, Fidel Castro Ruz, died,” Raul said.

“Ever onward, to victory.”

He established the first communist state in the Western Hemisphere after leading an overthrow of the military dictatorship of Fulgencio Batista in 1959, despite an initial failed attempt.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his condolence to the people of Cuba said “Fidel Castro was one of the most iconic personalities of the 20th century. India mourns the loss of a great friend”.

The leftist leader, who took the world to the brink of a third world war by pushing for nuclear attacks on the US by the Soviet Union, is being mourned by leaders across the world.