Explosions and Low-Altitude Planes Heard in Venezuela's Capital City Caracas City
Reports emerged of numerous explosions and the sound of low-flying jets in the Venezuelan capital in the small hours of Saturday. The situation has led to accusations from Venezuela's government and demands for diplomatic scrutiny.
Caracas Accuses US of Military Action
Venezuela's authoritarian regime has accused the US of what it calls "foreign aggression," claiming that ex- President Trump reportedly directed strikes against the South American nation. In an official announcement, the government asserted that strikes had hit the capital and three other provinces: Miranda state, La Guaira, and Aragua state.
"The primary goal of this attack is to seize control of Venezuela's strategic resources, in particular its petroleum and mineral wealth," Venezuela asserted.
The government called on the international community to condemn the operations, which it termed a "blatant breach of global law" that put millions of civilians in jeopardy.
Accounts of Blasts and Military Installations Hit
Eyewitnesses spoke of hearing roughly several detonations around 2:00 AM local time. People in various areas allegedly ran into the streets outside.
"The earth trembled. It was frightening. We heard explosions and jets in the distance," stated one resident.
Smoke was observed rising from two defense sites in the city: the La Carlota airbase military airfield and the Fuerte Tiuna compound, where president Maduro is believed to reside.
Regional Response
The leader of neighboring Colombia, Gustavo Petro, stated on social media that "At this moment they are bombing Venezuela... bombing it with projectiles." He called for an swift meeting of the United Nations Security Council.
The Colombian government, which just joined the Security Council, stated it would activate security measures at its frontier with Venezuela.
Context
These reported strikes are preceded by a months-long campaign of pressure by the US against the Venezuelan administration. Since August, authorities reported a significant US military presence off Venezuela's Caribbean coast and a number of airstrikes on vessels linked to narco-trafficking.
Venezuela's administration has declared "a state of external threat" and commanded all national defence protocols to be implemented. It has also urged its supporters to protest and "denounce this foreign act."
American officials and the Defense Department did not publicly addressed inquiries for clarification regarding the reports.
