Explosions and Low-Flying Aircraft Reported in Venezuelan Capital City Caracas City
Witness testimonies emerged of numerous detonations and the sound of low-altitude jets in Caracas in the small hours of Saturday. This event has sparked accusations from the Venezuelan government and demands for global action.
Caracas Accuses Washington of Aggression
Venezuela's incumbent administration has accused the US of committing "imperial aggression," alleging that former President Donald Trump allegedly authorized military strikes against the Latin American nation. In an formal statement, the government asserted that strikes had targeted the capital and three other states: Miranda state, La Guaira, and Aragua.
"The primary goal of this aggression is to take control of our nation's key assets, notably its crude oil and mineral wealth," the government asserted.
Venezuelan officials urged the international community to condemn the actions, which it described a "clear infringement of global law" that endangered countless of lives in danger.
Accounts of Blasts and Military Installations Hit
Locals described hearing at least multiple detonations around 2:00 AM in the morning. Residents in several districts reportedly hurried into the open.
"The whole ground shook. This is horrible. We experienced blasts and jets in the sky," commented one witness.
Plumes of smoke was seen billowing from major army bases in Caracas: the La Carlota airbase air base and the Fuerte Tiuna military base, where president Nicolás Maduro is believed to live.
International Response
The president of neighboring Colombia, stated on a social platform that "Right now they are attacking Venezuela... attacking it with projectiles." He demanded an urgent emergency session of the UN Security Council.
Colombia, which recently joined the Security Council, announced it would activate defense plans at its frontier with Venezuela.
Preceding Events
The alleged attacks are preceded by a prolonged campaign of pressure by the United States against the Maduro government. Beginning in last summer, there has been a significant naval presence off Venezuela's Caribbean coast and a series of airstrikes on vessels linked to drug trafficking.
Venezuela's administration has declared "a state of external disturbance" and commanded all defense protocols to be activated. It has also called on its supporters to protest and "repudiate this foreign aggression."
The White House and the Defense Department did not publicly addressed inquiries for comment regarding the reports.
