Blasts and Low-Flying Aircraft Heard in Venezuela's Capital Caracas City
Witness testimonies emerged of numerous blasts and the noise of low-flying planes in Caracas in the small hours of Saturday morning. The situation has prompted allegations from the Venezuelan leadership and demands for diplomatic action.
Venezuela Blames United States of Aggression
Venezuela's authoritarian government has blamed the United States of an act of "imperial aggression," stating that ex- President Trump allegedly directed strikes against the Latin American nation. In an formal declaration, the government asserted that attacks had hit the capital and several other states: Miranda, La Guaira, and Aragua.
"The only objective of these strikes is to gain control of our nation's strategic resources, notably its oil and resources," the government said.
Venezuelan officials urged the international community to condemn the actions, which it labeled a "flagrant violation of international norms" that put countless of lives in danger.
Reports of Blasts and Military Bases Hit
Locals described hearing at least multiple powerful blasts around the middle of the night local time. Residents in several areas allegedly ran into the open.
"The whole ground shook. This is terrifying. We experienced explosions and planes in the sky," said one witness.
Smoke was observed pouring from major military installations in Caracas: the La Carlota airbase air base and the Fuerte Tiuna army base, where president Maduro is thought to live.
Global Condemnation
The leader of bordering Colombia, Gustavo Petro, wrote on a social platform that "At this moment they are attacking Venezuela... bombing it with rockets." He requested an swift emergency session of the Security Council.
Colombia, which recently became a member of the UNSC, stated it would activate security plans at its shared border with its neighbor.
Preceding Events
The alleged attacks are preceded by a extended pressure campaign by the Trump administration against the Maduro regime. Since August, there has been a major naval deployment off Venezuela's northern coast and a series of airstrikes on vessels suspected of drug trafficking.
Venezuela's government has announced "a state of external disturbance" and commanded all national defense measures to be initiated. It has also called on its political forces to take to the streets and "repudiate this imperialist attack."
US authorities and the Defense Department did not immediately commented on requests for comment regarding the events.
