🔗 Share this article

Witness testimonies circulated of several explosions and the noise of low-flying aircraft in the Venezuelan capital in the pre-dawn hours of Saturday. The event has prompted accusations from Venezuela's authorities and calls for international action.

Venezuela Blames United States of Aggression

Venezuela's socialist regime has condemned the US of an act of "foreign aggression," stating that ex- President Trump supposedly directed strikes against the Latin American state. In an official statement, the authorities stated that attacks had impacted the capital and several other states: Miranda state, La Guaira state, and Aragua state.

"The sole aim of this attack is to take control of our nation's natural resources, in particular its crude oil and mineral wealth," Venezuela said.

Caracas appealed to the global community to denounce the operations, which it described a "flagrant violation of international law" that placed countless of lives in danger.

Accounts of Explosions and Military Installations Targeted

Locals spoke of experiencing approximately multiple detonations around 2:00 AM local time. Citizens in several neighborhoods allegedly ran into the streets outside.

"The earth trembled. It was terrifying. We heard blasts and planes in the sky," commented one witness.

Smoke was observed pouring from key military installations in Caracas: the La Carlota airfield and the Fuerte Tiuna base military base, where president Maduro is believed to live.

International Reaction

The president of neighboring Colombia, claimed on X that "At this moment they are striking Venezuela... bombing it with projectiles." He demanded an urgent emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council.

Colombia, which recently became a member of the Security Council, said it would activate defense protocols at its shared border with its neighbor.

Context

These reported attacks come after a months-long pressure campaign by the US against the Venezuelan government. Beginning in last summer, there has been a significant American military buildup off Venezuela's northern coast and a number of strikes on ships linked to drug trafficking.

The administration has stated "the implementation of external threat" and ordered all defense plans to be activated. It has also summoned its political forces to take to the streets and "denounce this external attack."

US authorities and the Defense Department did not promptly responded to inquiries for comment regarding the allegations.