Explosions and Low-Flying Planes Heard in Venezuela's Capital Caracas

Witness testimonies circulated of several blasts and the roar of low-flying planes in Caracas in the small hours of Saturday morning. The incident has prompted allegations from the Venezuelan authorities and calls for diplomatic intervention.

Caracas Accuses US of Aggression

The incumbent administration has condemned the US of what it calls "imperialist aggression," claiming that former President Trump supposedly authorized strikes against the Latin American country. In an public statement, the authorities asserted that strikes had impacted Caracas and three other states: Miranda state, La Guaira state, and Aragua state.

"The sole aim of this attack is to take control of our nation's key assets, notably its oil and mineral wealth," Venezuela asserted.

Caracas appealed to the global community to condemn the actions, which it termed a "flagrant violation of international law" that endangered numerous of lives in peril.

Accounts of Blasts and Defense Sites Hit

Eyewitnesses reported experiencing approximately seven powerful blasts around the middle of the night local time. Citizens in different areas reportedly ran into the streets outside.

"The whole ground shook. This is horrible. We heard explosions and planes in the sky," commented one witness.

Black smoke was reported rising from major defense sites in the city: the La Carlota air base and the Fuerte Tiuna military base, where leader Nicolás Maduro is reported to have a residence.

International Response

The president of neighboring Colombia, claimed on X that "Right now they are striking Caracas... attacking it with projectiles." He called for an urgent emergency meeting of the UN Security Council.

Colombia, which just became a member of the Security Council, announced it would initiate operational measures at its shared border with Venezuela.

Background

The reported strikes come after a prolonged pressure campaign by the United States against the Venezuelan regime. Since last summer, authorities reported a significant US military deployment off the country's northern coast and a series of strikes on vessels suspected of illegal activities.

Venezuela's government has declared "a state of external disturbance" and ordered all national defence measures to be activated. It has also called on its supporters to take to the streets and "reject this imperialist act."

US authorities and the Pentagon did not immediately responded to requests for clarification regarding the allegations.