Detonations and Low-Altitude Jets Reported in Venezuela's Capital City Caracas
Witness testimonies circulated of multiple detonations and the noise of low-flying jets in the Venezuelan capital in the pre-dawn hours of Saturday morning. The situation has prompted accusations from Venezuela's authorities and calls for global scrutiny.
Venezuela Blames United States of Aggression
The authoritarian administration has accused the United States of committing "imperialist aggression," alleging that ex- President Trump supposedly authorized attacks against the Latin American country. In an public statement, the government stated that strikes had impacted the capital and several other states: Miranda state, La Guaira, and Aragua state.
"Our primary goal of this aggression is to gain control of our nation's key assets, especially its crude oil and resources," Venezuela declared.
Venezuelan officials urged the world to denounce the strikes, which it described a "clear infringement of international law" that endangered millions of civilians in danger.
Reports of Blasts and Military Sites Targeted
Eyewitnesses described experiencing at least several explosions around the middle of the night in the morning. Residents in different neighborhoods reportedly hurried into the streets.
"Everything shook. This is horrible. We experienced blasts and jets in the sky," said one resident.
Black smoke was observed pouring from major army bases in the city: the La Carlota air base and the Fuerte Tiuna base compound, where president Maduro is believed to reside.
Regional Condemnation
The president of neighboring Colombia, Gustavo Petro, wrote on a social platform that "Right now they are attacking Caracas... bombing it with missiles." He demanded an swift meeting of the UN Security Council.
Colombia, which just became a member of the Security Council, said it would activate operational measures at its shared border with Venezuela.
Context
The reported attacks follow a prolonged campaign of pressure by the US against the Maduro government. Since last summer, authorities reported a significant US military buildup off the country's Caribbean coast and a series of strikes on vessels suspected of illegal activities.
The administration has stated "the implementation of external threat" and ordered all national defence protocols to be activated. It has also summoned its supporters to protest and "repudiate this imperialist act."
American officials and the Defense Department did not promptly commented on requests for a statement regarding the allegations.
