Blasts and Low-Altitude Aircraft Witnessed in Venezuelan Capital Caracas City
Witness testimonies surfaced of several detonations and the sound of low-flying jets in the Venezuelan capital in the pre-dawn hours of the weekend. The event has sparked allegations from the Venezuelan leadership and requests for diplomatic action.
Caracas Condemns Washington of Aggression
The authoritarian administration has condemned the United States of committing "foreign aggression," stating that ex- President Donald Trump reportedly ordered strikes against the South American country. In an formal announcement, the authorities stated that strikes had impacted the capital and several other regions: Miranda, La Guaira, and Aragua.
"Our only objective of these strikes is to take control of Venezuela's key assets, in particular its crude oil and mineral wealth," the statement asserted.
Caracas appealed to the international community to denounce the actions, which it described a "blatant breach of global law" that endangered millions of lives at risk in peril.
Accounts of Blasts and Military Bases Targeted
Locals described feeling approximately multiple explosions around the middle of the night in the morning. People in different neighborhoods allegedly rushed into the streets.
"The earth trembled. This is frightening. We heard explosions and aircraft in the sky," stated one resident.
Smoke was observed pouring from two army bases in the city: the La Carlota airbase air base and the Fuerte Tiuna compound, where leader Maduro is thought to live.
Global Response
The president of bordering Colombia, wrote on X that "Right now they are bombing Venezuela... attacking it with rockets." He demanded an urgent emergency session of the UN Security Council.
The Colombian government, which recently became a member of the UNSC, said it would activate security plans at its frontier with Venezuela.
Background
These alleged strikes come after a extended campaign of pressure by the Trump administration against the Venezuelan regime. Beginning in August, authorities reported a major naval buildup off the country's northern coast and a series of air strikes on boats accused of narco-trafficking.
Venezuela's administration has announced "the implementation of external threat" and directed all defense measures to be implemented. It has also summoned its citizens to protest and "reject this imperialist aggression."
The White House and the US Department of Defense did not immediately commented on requests for a statement regarding the allegations.
