Blasts and Low-Flying Planes Heard in Venezuela's Capital City Caracas
Reports circulated of numerous explosions and the roar of low-flying aircraft in the Venezuelan capital in the small hours of Saturday. This situation has led to claims from Venezuela's leadership and demands for international scrutiny.
Caracas Accuses United States of Military Action
The authoritarian regime has accused the Washington of committing "imperial aggression," stating that ex- President Trump allegedly authorized military strikes against the South American state. In an public declaration, the authorities confirmed that attacks had impacted the capital and three other provinces: Miranda state, La Guaira state, and Aragua.
"The only objective of these strikes is to gain control of Venezuela's key assets, especially its crude oil and resources," the statement asserted.
Venezuelan officials urged the international community to condemn the strikes, which it termed a "clear infringement of international law" that put millions of civilians in danger.
Accounts of Explosions and Defense Installations Targeted
Locals reported feeling roughly several explosions around the middle of the night in the morning. Citizens in various neighborhoods reportedly hurried into the streets outside.
"Everything shook. This is frightening. We heard explosions and planes in the distance," said one witness.
Plumes of smoke was observed billowing from two defense sites in Caracas: the La Carlota airfield and the Fuerte Tiuna base army base, where leader Maduro is thought to have a residence.
Regional Reaction
The president of neighboring Colombia, claimed on a social platform that "At this moment they are bombing Venezuela... bombing it with missiles." He called for an swift emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council.
The Colombian government, which just joined the Security Council, stated it would activate defense plans at its frontier with its neighbor.
Background
These reported strikes follow a extended campaign of pressure by the Trump administration against the Venezuelan government. Beginning in last summer, there has been a major US military deployment off Venezuela's Caribbean coast and a series of strikes on boats linked to narco-trafficking.
The government has stated "the implementation of external threat" and commanded all defense plans to be activated. It has also summoned its supporters to protest and "repudiate this foreign aggression."
American officials and the Defense Department have not publicly commented on requests for clarification regarding the allegations.
