Blasts and Low-Flying Aircraft Heard in Venezuelan Capital City Caracas City
Reports emerged of numerous explosions and the sound of low-flying aircraft in the Venezuelan capital in the pre-dawn hours of the weekend. The event has led to accusations from Venezuela's government and calls for international action.
Caracas Accuses United States of Military Action
The socialist government has condemned the US of an act of "imperialist aggression," stating that former President Donald Trump allegedly authorized strikes against the South American nation. In an formal statement, the government confirmed that attacks had hit Caracas and several other provinces: Miranda, La Guaira state, and Aragua.
"The primary goal of this attack is to gain control of our nation's strategic resources, especially its crude oil and minerals," the statement asserted.
The government appealed to the world to censure the strikes, which it termed a "blatant breach of global law" that put numerous of lives in peril.
Accounts of Blasts and Military Installations Hit
Residents spoke of hearing approximately several detonations around the middle of the night local time. People in different areas allegedly hurried into the streets.
"Everything shook. It was frightening. We heard explosions and planes in the sky," commented one resident.
Smoke was observed rising from key military installations in the city: the La Carlota airbase military airfield and the Fuerte Tiuna compound, where president Maduro is thought to reside.
Global Condemnation
The president of neighboring Colombia, Gustavo Petro, stated on a social platform that "At this moment they are attacking Venezuela... bombing it with missiles." He requested an swift emergency session of the UN Security Council.
Colombia, which recently became a member of the UNSC, said it would initiate operational measures at its frontier with its neighbor.
Preceding Events
These alleged attacks are preceded by a prolonged military buildup by the United States against the Maduro administration. Since last summer, authorities reported a significant naval deployment off Venezuela's Caribbean coast and a series of strikes on vessels linked to narco-trafficking.
Venezuela's government has announced "the implementation of emergency" and ordered all defense protocols to be initiated. It has also called on its political forces to mobilize and "denounce this imperialist aggression."
American officials and the Pentagon did not immediately responded to inquiries for clarification regarding the events.
