Detonations and Low-Altitude Jets Heard in Venezuelan Capital City Caracas City
Accounts circulated of several blasts and the sound of low-flying aircraft in the Venezuelan capital in the pre-dawn hours of Saturday morning. The incident has led to allegations from Venezuela's authorities and calls for diplomatic scrutiny.
Caracas Blames United States of Military Action
The socialist regime has accused the Washington of an act of "imperial aggression," stating that ex- President Trump allegedly directed military strikes against the South American state. In an official announcement, the authorities stated that strikes had impacted the capital and several other states: Miranda, La Guaira, and Aragua state.
"Our sole aim of this attack is to gain control of Venezuela's key assets, especially its crude oil and resources," the government declared.
Venezuelan officials called on the international community to denounce the actions, which it labeled a "flagrant violation of international law" that endangered millions of civilians in peril.
Accounts of Blasts and Defense Bases Hit
Residents spoke of feeling roughly multiple powerful blasts around 2 a.m. in the morning. Residents in various neighborhoods reportedly rushed into the open.
"Everything shook. It was frightening. We heard blasts and aircraft in the distance," commented one local.
Plumes of smoke was observed pouring from major defense sites in the city: the La Carlota air base and the Fuerte Tiuna base compound, where leader Nicolás Maduro is thought to live.
Regional Response
The leader of neighboring Colombia, Gustavo Petro, wrote on X that "Right now they are bombing Venezuela... bombing it with missiles." He demanded an urgent meeting of the UN Security Council.
The Colombian government, which just became a member of the UNSC, stated it would activate defense protocols at its border with its neighbor.
Context
The reported attacks come after a months-long military buildup by the Trump administration against the Maduro government. Beginning in August, there has been a significant US military presence off Venezuela's Caribbean coast and a number of strikes on boats suspected of drug trafficking.
The administration has declared "a state of emergency" and ordered all national defence protocols to be initiated. It has also urged its citizens to protest and "denounce this imperialist attack."
US authorities and the Pentagon have not publicly commented on inquiries for a statement regarding the allegations.
