Blasts and Low-Altitude Aircraft Reported in Venezuela's Capital City Caracas City
Witness testimonies circulated of multiple detonations and the roar of low-altitude planes in Caracas in the small hours of Saturday morning. This situation has led to claims from Venezuela's leadership and requests for global scrutiny.
Venezuela Blames US of Attack
Venezuela's authoritarian regime has blamed the United States of what it calls "imperial aggression," stating that ex- President Donald Trump allegedly directed military strikes against the South American country. In an official declaration, the government asserted that strikes had hit the capital and several other provinces: Miranda, La Guaira, and Aragua.
"The only objective of these strikes is to gain control of Venezuela's key assets, notably its crude oil and mineral wealth," the government said.
The government urged the world to censure the strikes, which it labeled a "clear infringement of international norms" that placed millions of lives in peril.
Reports of Explosions and Defense Bases Targeted
Eyewitnesses described experiencing approximately multiple powerful blasts around the middle of the night in the morning. Residents in different neighborhoods allegedly rushed into the streets outside.
"The earth trembled. This is terrifying. We experienced explosions and planes in the distance," commented one local.
Black smoke was observed rising from major army bases in Caracas: the La Carlota air base and the Fuerte Tiuna base military base, where president Maduro is believed to have a residence.
Regional Reaction
The president of bordering Colombia, claimed on X that "Right now they are bombing Venezuela... bombing it with projectiles." He demanded an swift meeting of the UN Security Council.
The Colombian government, which just joined the Security Council, announced it would activate defense measures at its shared border with its neighbor.
Context
These reported attacks come after a months-long pressure campaign by the United States against the Venezuelan regime. Beginning in last summer, there has been a substantial US military deployment off the country's Caribbean coast and a series of air strikes on ships accused of drug trafficking.
The government has stated "a state of emergency" and directed all defense measures to be implemented. It has also summoned its citizens to take to the streets and "repudiate this imperialist act."
US authorities and the US Department of Defense did not immediately responded to requests for clarification regarding the allegations.