Detonations and Low-Altitude Jets Witnessed in Venezuela's Capital Caracas
Reports circulated of numerous detonations and the sound of low-altitude aircraft in the Venezuelan capital in the pre-dawn hours of Saturday morning. This incident has prompted allegations from Venezuela's authorities and requests for diplomatic scrutiny.
Caracas Blames Washington of Military Action
The authoritarian administration has blamed the Washington of what it calls "imperial aggression," alleging that ex- President Trump supposedly ordered military strikes against the South American country. In an formal statement, the government confirmed that strikes had impacted the capital and several other regions: Miranda, La Guaira, and Aragua.
"Our only objective of these strikes is to gain control of Venezuela's key assets, especially its petroleum and mineral wealth," Venezuela declared.
Caracas called on the global community to denounce the strikes, which it described a "blatant breach of international norms" that put numerous of lives at risk in jeopardy.
Reports of Blasts and Defense Sites Targeted
Eyewitnesses spoke of hearing approximately multiple powerful blasts around the middle of the night local time. People in various neighborhoods allegedly rushed into the streets.
"Everything shook. It was frightening. We heard explosions and planes in the distance," commented one local.
Black smoke was observed billowing from two defense sites in Caracas: the La Carlota airbase military airfield and the Fuerte Tiuna compound, where leader Maduro is thought to reside.
International Response
The president of neighboring Colombia, claimed on a social platform that "At this moment they are attacking Caracas... attacking it with rockets." He demanded an immediate emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council.
The Colombian government, which recently joined the Security Council, announced it would activate defense plans at its frontier with Venezuela.
Preceding Events
These reported attacks come after a prolonged military buildup by the United States against the Maduro administration. Since last summer, authorities reported a significant naval presence off the country's Caribbean coast and a series of strikes on vessels suspected of drug trafficking.
Venezuela's government has declared "the implementation of external disturbance" and ordered all defense protocols to be activated. It has also urged its supporters to protest and "denounce this imperialist attack."
US authorities and the Defense Department have not immediately addressed requests for clarification regarding the events.
