Detonations and Low-Altitude Aircraft Witnessed in Venezuela's Capital City Caracas City
Reports circulated of multiple detonations and the sound of low-altitude planes in Caracas in the early hours of Saturday morning. The incident has prompted claims from the Venezuelan leadership and calls for international intervention.
Caracas Condemns Washington of Aggression
The authoritarian administration has condemned the Washington of an act of "imperial aggression," stating that ex- President Donald Trump supposedly authorized military strikes against the South American nation. In an public statement, the authorities asserted that strikes had impacted Caracas and three other regions: Miranda, La Guaira state, and Aragua.
"The primary goal of these strikes is to gain control of our nation's strategic resources, especially its petroleum and minerals," the statement asserted.
The government urged the global community to condemn the strikes, which it termed a "clear infringement of global law" that put millions of lives at risk in jeopardy.
Accounts of Blasts and Defense Bases Targeted
Locals spoke of hearing approximately multiple detonations around 2:00 AM local time. Residents in various neighborhoods allegedly ran into the streets outside.
"Everything shook. It was frightening. We experienced explosions and planes in the sky," said one local.
Smoke was seen billowing from key defense sites in Caracas: the La Carlota airbase airfield and the Fuerte Tiuna base army base, where leader Maduro is thought to live.
Global Reaction
The leader of neighboring Colombia, wrote on X that "Right now they are attacking Venezuela... attacking it with rockets." He demanded an urgent meeting of the United Nations Security Council.
Colombia, which just became a member of the Security Council, announced it would activate security measures at its shared border with its neighbor.
Context
The alleged strikes follow a prolonged military buildup by the US against the Venezuelan government. Since last summer, authorities reported a substantial naval buildup off the country's northern coast and a number of strikes on vessels linked to narco-trafficking.
The government has stated "a state of external threat" and directed all defense protocols to be activated. It has also summoned its citizens to take to the streets and "denounce this foreign act."
US authorities and the US Department of Defense did not publicly responded to inquiries for comment regarding the events.
