Blasts and Low-Flying Aircraft Witnessed in Venezuelan Capital City Caracas City
Reports surfaced of several blasts and the sound of low-flying planes in the Venezuelan capital in the early hours of the weekend. The event has led to allegations from Venezuela's leadership and requests for international intervention.
Caracas Condemns Washington of Attack
Venezuela's socialist government has accused the Washington of an act of "imperialist aggression," claiming that former President Trump reportedly directed strikes against the Latin American state. In an public announcement, the government confirmed that attacks had hit the capital and three other states: Miranda state, La Guaira, and Aragua.
"Our only objective of these strikes is to take control of our nation's natural resources, notably its crude oil and minerals," Venezuela asserted.
The government urged the international community to denounce the actions, which it labeled a "blatant breach of international norms" that placed countless of lives in danger.
Accounts of Explosions and Military Bases Hit
Eyewitnesses spoke of feeling roughly multiple explosions around 2 a.m. in the morning. People in various neighborhoods allegedly rushed into the streets.
"The earth trembled. This is frightening. We heard blasts and planes in the area," said one witness.
Black smoke was seen rising from key defense sites in Caracas: the La Carlota military airfield and the Fuerte Tiuna base army base, where president Nicolás Maduro is believed to live.
Global Condemnation
The president of neighboring Colombia, Gustavo Petro, stated on X that "Currently they are bombing Venezuela... bombing it with missiles." He called for an immediate meeting of the Security Council.
The Colombian government, which just became a member of the Security Council, said it would initiate defense measures at its shared border with its neighbor.
Preceding Events
The alleged attacks are preceded by a months-long campaign of pressure by the Trump administration against the Maduro regime. Since August, authorities reported a major American military presence off Venezuela's northern coast and a number of strikes on vessels suspected of illegal activities.
Venezuela's government has declared "a state of emergency" and directed all national defence protocols to be activated. It has also urged its political forces to protest and "repudiate this imperialist attack."
US authorities and the US Department of Defense did not promptly commented on requests for clarification regarding the allegations.
