Blasts and Low-Flying Aircraft Heard in Venezuelan Capital City Caracas City
Reports circulated of numerous detonations and the noise of low-flying planes in the Venezuelan capital in the pre-dawn hours of Saturday. The incident has prompted accusations from the Venezuelan leadership and calls for diplomatic scrutiny.
Venezuela Condemns Washington of Aggression
Venezuela's authoritarian regime has accused the United States of an act of "foreign aggression," stating that ex- President Donald Trump reportedly ordered military strikes against the Latin American state. In an official declaration, the authorities stated that attacks had targeted Caracas and three other states: Miranda state, La Guaira, and Aragua.
"The only objective of this aggression is to take control of Venezuela's key assets, especially its petroleum and resources," the government said.
Venezuelan officials appealed to the international community to condemn the operations, which it termed a "flagrant violation of global law" that put numerous of lives in peril.
Reports of Explosions and Defense Installations Hit
Eyewitnesses spoke of experiencing approximately several detonations around the middle of the night local time. People in different districts reportedly ran into the streets.
"The whole ground shook. It was frightening. We heard blasts and jets in the sky," said one local.
Smoke was reported rising from two army bases in the city: the La Carlota airfield and the Fuerte Tiuna base military base, where president Maduro is believed to live.
Global Reaction
The president of bordering Colombia, Gustavo Petro, claimed on X that "Right now they are striking Caracas... bombing it with projectiles." He called for an swift emergency session of the UN Security Council.
The Colombian government, which recently became a member of the Security Council, announced it would activate operational protocols at its frontier with its neighbor.
Context
The reported attacks come after a prolonged campaign of pressure by the US against the Venezuelan regime. Beginning in last summer, there has been a major American military buildup off the country's Caribbean coast and a number of airstrikes on boats accused of illegal activities.
Venezuela's administration has declared "the implementation of external threat" and directed all national defence protocols to be initiated. It has also urged its supporters to mobilize and "reject this foreign aggression."
American officials and the US Department of Defense did not promptly commented on requests for clarification regarding the events.
