Blasts and Low-Altitude Jets Heard in Venezuela's Capital City Caracas
Witness testimonies surfaced of several detonations and the roar of low-flying jets in the Venezuelan capital in the small hours of the weekend. This incident has sparked claims from the Venezuelan leadership and requests for diplomatic intervention.
Caracas Accuses United States of Aggression
Venezuela's socialist government has condemned the United States of committing "imperialist aggression," alleging that ex- President Donald Trump supposedly authorized military strikes against the South American country. In an formal announcement, the government asserted that attacks had impacted the capital and several other regions: Miranda state, La Guaira state, and Aragua.
"The sole aim of this aggression is to take control of Venezuela's strategic resources, in particular its petroleum and resources," the government said.
The government urged the world to condemn the operations, which it labeled a "flagrant violation of global law" that placed millions of lives at risk in peril.
Reports of Blasts and Military Sites Targeted
Locals spoke of hearing at least seven detonations around 2 a.m. local time. Residents in various areas allegedly ran into the streets.
"The earth trembled. It was terrifying. We heard explosions and jets in the sky," stated one witness.
Plumes of smoke was seen rising from key army bases in Caracas: the La Carlota airfield and the Fuerte Tiuna base compound, where president Maduro is thought to live.
Regional Condemnation
The leader of neighboring Colombia, wrote on X that "Currently they are attacking Caracas... bombing it with missiles." He demanded an urgent meeting of the UN Security Council.
Colombia, which recently joined the Security Council, announced it would activate defense plans at its shared border with Venezuela.
Background
These reported attacks follow a prolonged military buildup by the Trump administration against the Venezuelan government. Beginning in last summer, there has been a significant US military deployment off the country's northern coast and a series of air strikes on vessels suspected of illegal activities.
The government has declared "a state of external threat" and directed all national defense measures to be initiated. It has also summoned its political forces to protest and "repudiate this foreign aggression."
The White House and the Defense Department have not promptly commented on inquiries for a statement regarding the reports.