Blasts and Low-Flying Jets Witnessed in Venezuela's Capital City Caracas City
Reports circulated of numerous explosions and the roar of low-flying planes in the Venezuelan capital in the small hours of Saturday morning. The event has led to allegations from Venezuela's authorities and demands for diplomatic intervention.
Caracas Blames Washington of Aggression
The socialist regime has blamed the United States of committing "foreign aggression," claiming that former President Trump supposedly authorized military strikes against the South American state. In an official declaration, the government asserted that strikes had impacted the capital and several other provinces: Miranda, La Guaira, and Aragua state.
"Our only objective of these strikes is to take control of our nation's key assets, in particular its crude oil and mineral wealth," the statement said.
The government called on the international community to denounce the operations, which it termed a "flagrant violation of international norms" that endangered millions of lives in jeopardy.
Accounts of Blasts and Military Sites Hit
Eyewitnesses described feeling roughly several powerful blasts around 2 a.m. local time. Residents in several neighborhoods reportedly rushed into the open.
"The whole ground shook. It was terrifying. We experienced explosions and planes in the area," commented one witness.
Black smoke was seen pouring from two defense sites in the city: the La Carlota airbase air base and the Fuerte Tiuna base compound, where president Nicolás Maduro is thought to have a residence.
International Response
The leader of bordering Colombia, Gustavo Petro, wrote on X that "At this moment they are striking Caracas... bombing it with rockets." He demanded an urgent meeting of the United Nations Security Council.
Colombia, which just became a member of the UNSC, announced it would activate security plans at its frontier with Venezuela.
Context
The reported strikes are preceded by a prolonged pressure campaign by the US against the Venezuelan administration. Since August, there has been a significant American military deployment off Venezuela's northern coast and a series of airstrikes on boats linked to drug trafficking.
The government has stated "the implementation of emergency" and ordered all defense protocols to be activated. It has also urged its citizens to mobilize and "reject this foreign aggression."
US authorities and the US Department of Defense have not publicly responded to requests for comment regarding the events.
