Detonations and Low-Altitude Aircraft Heard in Venezuela's Capital Caracas City
Reports circulated of multiple explosions and the noise of low-altitude jets in Caracas in the early hours of Saturday morning. This incident has prompted claims from Venezuela's authorities and demands for global scrutiny.
Caracas Blames United States of Attack
Venezuela's authoritarian regime has condemned the Washington of an act of "foreign aggression," claiming that former President Trump supposedly authorized attacks against the South American country. In an formal statement, the authorities confirmed that strikes had impacted the capital and several other states: Miranda, La Guaira state, and Aragua state.
"The only objective of these strikes is to take control of our nation's key assets, especially its oil and minerals," the statement said.
Venezuelan officials appealed to the world to condemn the strikes, which it described a "flagrant violation of global law" that put countless of lives in jeopardy.
Accounts of Blasts and Military Sites Hit
Eyewitnesses described hearing at least multiple detonations around 2 a.m. local time. Residents in various neighborhoods reportedly hurried into the streets.
"The whole ground shook. It was horrible. We experienced blasts and jets in the area," stated one witness.
Smoke was observed billowing from key defense sites in Caracas: the La Carlota airbase airfield and the Fuerte Tiuna military base, where leader Maduro is thought to reside.
Regional Response
The leader of neighboring Colombia, claimed on social media that "At this moment they are bombing Caracas... bombing it with rockets." He requested an immediate meeting of the United Nations Security Council.
Colombia, which recently became a member of the UNSC, announced it would activate defense protocols at its frontier with its neighbor.
Background
The alleged strikes follow a months-long campaign of pressure by the United States against the Maduro government. Beginning in August, authorities reported a major US military deployment off Venezuela's northern coast and a series of strikes on vessels suspected of drug trafficking.
The administration has announced "the implementation of emergency" and ordered all defense protocols to be implemented. It has also summoned its supporters to protest and "repudiate this external aggression."
The White House and the Defense Department did not publicly addressed inquiries for clarification regarding the events.
