Blasts and Low-Flying Planes Witnessed in Venezuelan Capital City Caracas City
Accounts surfaced of multiple blasts and the noise of low-altitude jets in the Venezuelan capital in the pre-dawn hours of the weekend. The situation has sparked allegations from the Venezuelan leadership and requests for diplomatic intervention.
Caracas Accuses Washington of Military Action
The socialist government has blamed the US of committing "imperialist aggression," claiming that former President Trump supposedly ordered strikes against the Latin American country. In an formal declaration, the authorities stated that attacks had impacted Caracas and several other regions: Miranda, La Guaira state, and Aragua state.
"The only objective of this attack is to gain control of Venezuela's key assets, especially its oil and mineral wealth," the government declared.
Venezuelan officials called on the global community to condemn the operations, which it described a "flagrant violation of international norms" that put millions of lives at risk in peril.
Reports of Blasts and Military Bases Hit
Eyewitnesses described experiencing approximately seven detonations around 2 a.m. local time. Citizens in different districts allegedly ran into the open.
"The whole ground shook. This is terrifying. We heard explosions and planes in the distance," commented one witness.
Plumes of smoke was reported pouring from key military installations in Caracas: the La Carlota airbase air base and the Fuerte Tiuna compound, where leader Nicolás Maduro is thought to live.
Regional Reaction
The leader of neighboring Colombia, Gustavo Petro, wrote on social media that "Currently they are attacking Caracas... bombing it with projectiles." He requested an urgent meeting of the UN Security Council.
The Colombian government, which recently became a member of the Security Council, announced it would initiate security plans at its border with Venezuela.
Background
These reported strikes follow a prolonged campaign of pressure by the US against the Venezuelan government. Beginning in last summer, authorities reported a substantial American military buildup off Venezuela's Caribbean coast and a series of air strikes on ships accused of illegal activities.
Venezuela's government has declared "a state of emergency" and directed all national defence protocols to be activated. It has also called on its citizens to take to the streets and "denounce this external aggression."
US authorities and the Pentagon did not immediately commented on requests for a statement regarding the reports.
