Explosions and Low-Flying Planes Witnessed in Venezuela's Capital City Caracas City
Witness testimonies circulated of multiple blasts and the sound of low-flying planes in the Venezuelan capital in the pre-dawn hours of Saturday morning. The event has led to accusations from the Venezuelan government and requests for global scrutiny.
Venezuela Blames US of Aggression
Venezuela's incumbent government has condemned the US of what it calls "foreign aggression," stating that former President Trump allegedly directed strikes against the Latin American country. In an formal statement, the authorities confirmed that attacks had impacted the capital and several other states: Miranda state, La Guaira, and Aragua state.
"Our only objective of these strikes is to seize control of our nation's natural resources, in particular its crude oil and mineral wealth," Venezuela declared.
The government urged the global community to condemn the actions, which it described a "flagrant violation of international norms" that put numerous of civilians in peril.
Accounts of Explosions and Defense Bases Hit
Locals spoke of hearing roughly multiple detonations around the middle of the night in the morning. Residents in different areas allegedly hurried into the open.
"The earth trembled. This is terrifying. We experienced explosions and jets in the distance," said one local.
Black smoke was observed pouring from major defense sites in Caracas: the La Carlota military airfield and the Fuerte Tiuna army base, where leader Nicolás Maduro is thought to live.
Regional Reaction
The leader of neighboring Colombia, Gustavo Petro, stated on X that "Right now they are striking Caracas... bombing it with rockets." He requested an urgent emergency session of the UN Security Council.
Colombia, which recently became a member of the UNSC, said it would initiate security protocols at its shared border with Venezuela.
Background
These reported strikes are preceded by a prolonged military buildup by the Trump administration against the Venezuelan government. Since last summer, authorities reported a significant US military deployment off Venezuela's northern coast and a number of airstrikes on vessels linked to drug trafficking.
The government has stated "the implementation of external threat" and commanded all national defence measures to be implemented. It has also urged its political forces to take to the streets and "denounce this foreign act."
US authorities and the Defense Department did not publicly responded to inquiries for clarification regarding the events.
