Blasts and Low-Altitude Planes Heard in Venezuelan Capital City Caracas
Reports surfaced of numerous blasts and the sound of low-altitude planes in the Venezuelan capital in the pre-dawn hours of Saturday morning. This incident has prompted accusations from the Venezuelan government and requests for international scrutiny.
Venezuela Accuses United States of Aggression
The authoritarian government has blamed the United States of an act of "foreign aggression," stating that ex- President Trump supposedly ordered attacks against the Latin American nation. In an formal statement, the authorities asserted that attacks had impacted Caracas and several other provinces: Miranda state, La Guaira, and Aragua.
"The sole aim of these strikes is to seize control of Venezuela's natural resources, notably its oil and minerals," Venezuela said.
Caracas urged the world to condemn the actions, which it described a "clear infringement of global law" that endangered millions of civilians in jeopardy.
Reports of Explosions and Military Bases Hit
Eyewitnesses described hearing approximately several detonations around 2:00 AM in the morning. Citizens in different districts allegedly hurried into the streets.
"Everything shook. It was frightening. We experienced blasts and planes in the sky," said one local.
Smoke was seen billowing from major military installations in Caracas: the La Carlota airfield and the Fuerte Tiuna compound, where president Maduro is believed to live.
Regional Condemnation
The president of bordering Colombia, Gustavo Petro, claimed on a social platform that "Right now they are attacking Caracas... bombing it with missiles." He demanded an urgent meeting of the UN Security Council.
The Colombian government, which recently became a member of the UNSC, stated it would initiate operational measures at its shared border with its neighbor.
Context
These alleged strikes come after a months-long military buildup by the US against the Venezuelan administration. Since last summer, there has been a major American military deployment off Venezuela's Caribbean coast and a number of strikes on ships accused of narco-trafficking.
The government has declared "the implementation of external threat" and commanded all national defense protocols to be activated. It has also urged its citizens to mobilize and "repudiate this external act."
American officials and the US Department of Defense have not immediately commented on requests for comment regarding the allegations.