Blasts and Low-Flying Jets Heard in Venezuelan Capital City Caracas
Reports surfaced of multiple explosions and the sound of low-flying jets in the Venezuelan capital in the pre-dawn hours of Saturday. This situation has led to allegations from Venezuela's authorities and requests for international action.
Caracas Accuses Washington of Aggression
The socialist administration has blamed the United States of what it calls "imperial aggression," alleging that ex- President Donald Trump reportedly authorized military strikes against the Latin American nation. In an official statement, the government stated that attacks had hit the capital and several other states: Miranda, La Guaira, and Aragua state.
"Our only objective of this attack is to gain control of our nation's strategic resources, notably its petroleum and resources," the statement declared.
The government appealed to the international community to denounce the strikes, which it termed a "clear infringement of international norms" that put numerous of lives at risk in peril.
Accounts of Explosions and Defense Installations Targeted
Locals reported experiencing approximately multiple powerful blasts around 2 a.m. local time. Residents in different districts allegedly hurried into the open.
"The whole ground shook. It was horrible. We heard explosions and planes in the distance," said one local.
Plumes of smoke was reported rising from major military installations in Caracas: the La Carlota airbase air base and the Fuerte Tiuna base military base, where president Nicolás Maduro is reported to live.
Regional Response
The president of bordering Colombia, stated on X that "Currently they are bombing Caracas... attacking it with rockets." He called for an immediate emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council.
Colombia, which recently joined the Security Council, stated it would activate security protocols at its frontier with Venezuela.
Context
The alleged attacks are preceded by a months-long pressure campaign by the United States against the Venezuelan government. Since last summer, there has been a substantial naval deployment off the country's northern coast and a series of air strikes on boats accused of illegal activities.
Venezuela's government has announced "a state of emergency" and directed all defense plans to be implemented. It has also summoned its citizens to take to the streets and "denounce this imperialist attack."
US authorities and the Defense Department have not publicly responded to inquiries for a statement regarding the events.
