Explosions and Low-Altitude Aircraft Heard in Venezuela's Capital City Caracas City
Reports circulated of several blasts and the sound of low-flying planes in Caracas in the early hours of Saturday morning. The situation has led to accusations from Venezuela's government and calls for global intervention.
Caracas Accuses US of Military Action
The socialist administration has blamed the Washington of what it calls "imperial aggression," alleging that former President Trump reportedly ordered military strikes against the South American state. In an public announcement, the government stated that strikes had impacted the capital and several other regions: Miranda, La Guaira state, and Aragua.
"The sole aim of this aggression is to take control of our nation's key assets, in particular its crude oil and mineral wealth," the government asserted.
Caracas called on the world to censure the actions, which it termed a "flagrant violation of global law" that endangered countless of civilians in peril.
Accounts of Blasts and Military Bases Hit
Locals described hearing roughly multiple explosions around the middle of the night in the morning. People in several areas allegedly rushed into the streets outside.
"The earth trembled. This is frightening. We experienced blasts and planes in the sky," said one witness.
Plumes of smoke was observed pouring from key defense sites in Caracas: the La Carlota airbase air base and the Fuerte Tiuna base compound, where leader Maduro is thought to reside.
Regional Response
The president of neighboring Colombia, Gustavo Petro, claimed on social media that "Currently they are attacking Venezuela... bombing it with missiles." He demanded an urgent emergency session of the UN Security Council.
Colombia, which just joined the UNSC, stated it would activate defense measures at its border with its neighbor.
Preceding Events
The alleged strikes come after a months-long campaign of pressure by the US against the Venezuelan regime. Since August, there has been a substantial American military deployment off the country's northern coast and a number of airstrikes on ships linked to drug trafficking.
The administration has declared "a state of external disturbance" and commanded all national defence protocols to be implemented. It has also called on its citizens to protest and "reject this external aggression."
American officials and the Pentagon have not publicly commented on inquiries for comment regarding the events.
