Blasts and Low-Flying Jets Witnessed in Venezuela's Capital Caracas City

Reports emerged of numerous blasts and the noise of low-flying aircraft in the Venezuelan capital in the small hours of Saturday morning. The situation has prompted claims from Venezuela's government and demands for diplomatic intervention.

Caracas Condemns United States of Military Action

Venezuela's authoritarian administration has accused the United States of what it calls "foreign aggression," claiming that former President Trump allegedly directed strikes against the Latin American nation. In an official statement, the government confirmed that attacks had impacted Caracas and several other provinces: Miranda state, La Guaira state, and Aragua.

"Our sole aim of this aggression is to seize control of our nation's natural resources, especially its petroleum and mineral wealth," the government declared.

Venezuelan officials urged the world to censure the strikes, which it termed a "blatant breach of global law" that put numerous of lives at risk in jeopardy.

Reports of Explosions and Defense Bases Targeted

Locals spoke of hearing at least several explosions around 2 a.m. local time. Residents in several neighborhoods reportedly hurried into the streets.

"The whole ground shook. It was horrible. We heard explosions and aircraft in the area," said one witness.

Black smoke was reported rising from major military installations in Caracas: the La Carlota airbase air base and the Fuerte Tiuna base compound, where president Nicolás Maduro is believed to reside.

Regional Reaction

The president of neighboring Colombia, Gustavo Petro, wrote on a social platform that "Right now they are striking Venezuela... bombing it with rockets." He called for an urgent emergency meeting of the Security Council.

Colombia, which just became a member of the Security Council, announced it would initiate security protocols at its frontier with its neighbor.

Context

The alleged strikes come after a months-long pressure campaign by the Trump administration against the Maduro regime. Beginning in August, there has been a substantial US military deployment off Venezuela's northern coast and a series of airstrikes on vessels suspected of narco-trafficking.

The administration has announced "the implementation of emergency" and directed all national defense plans to be activated. It has also called on its political forces to mobilize and "repudiate this external aggression."

The White House and the Pentagon have not promptly responded to inquiries for a statement regarding the allegations.