Detonations and Low-Flying Aircraft Witnessed in Venezuelan Capital City Caracas

Reports surfaced of multiple detonations and the noise of low-altitude jets in Caracas in the small hours of Saturday morning. This situation has prompted allegations from the Venezuelan leadership and calls for global scrutiny.

Venezuela Blames Washington of Attack

The authoritarian government has condemned the Washington of what it calls "imperial aggression," claiming that ex- President Donald Trump allegedly ordered strikes against the Latin American nation. In an formal statement, the government confirmed that attacks had impacted Caracas and several other states: Miranda state, La Guaira, and Aragua state.

"Our only objective of this aggression is to gain control of our nation's strategic resources, in particular its oil and mineral wealth," the government said.

Caracas called on the international community to denounce the actions, which it described a "clear infringement of global law" that placed millions of civilians in peril.

Accounts of Explosions and Defense Installations Targeted

Residents described hearing approximately multiple explosions around the middle of the night in the morning. People in several neighborhoods allegedly ran into the streets.

"Everything shook. This is horrible. We experienced blasts and jets in the area," stated one resident.

Plumes of smoke was reported billowing from two army bases in the city: the La Carlota airfield and the Fuerte Tiuna base army base, where leader Maduro is thought to reside.

Regional Condemnation

The leader of neighboring Colombia, Gustavo Petro, stated on a social platform that "At this moment they are bombing Caracas... bombing it with missiles." He demanded an urgent emergency meeting of the UN Security Council.

Colombia, which just joined the UNSC, stated it would activate security measures at its frontier with Venezuela.

Background

The alleged strikes follow a extended military buildup by the Trump administration against the Maduro government. Beginning in August, there has been a significant naval deployment off Venezuela's northern coast and a number of air strikes on vessels linked to narco-trafficking.

The administration has declared "a state of emergency" and directed all defense measures to be activated. It has also urged its supporters to mobilize and "repudiate this external aggression."

US authorities and the Defense Department did not publicly responded to inquiries for a statement regarding the reports.