Explosions and Low-Altitude Jets Witnessed in Venezuelan Capital Caracas
Witness testimonies emerged of numerous blasts and the roar of low-altitude planes in the Venezuelan capital in the pre-dawn hours of Saturday. The incident has prompted claims from the Venezuelan authorities and requests for global scrutiny.
Caracas Blames Washington of Attack
Venezuela's socialist regime has blamed the US of committing "imperial aggression," claiming that ex- President Trump reportedly ordered strikes against the South American state. In an formal statement, the authorities asserted that strikes had impacted the capital and three other states: Miranda state, La Guaira state, and Aragua.
"Our only objective of this attack is to seize control of our nation's strategic resources, in particular its petroleum and mineral wealth," Venezuela asserted.
The government called on the global community to censure the operations, which it termed a "blatant breach of international norms" that put countless of lives in danger.
Reports of Blasts and Military Installations Hit
Locals described experiencing approximately seven powerful blasts around 2:00 AM in the morning. Citizens in different neighborhoods reportedly rushed into the open.
"The whole ground shook. It was terrifying. We heard blasts and aircraft in the distance," stated one witness.
Plumes of smoke was observed billowing from major defense sites in the city: the La Carlota airbase airfield and the Fuerte Tiuna base army base, where leader Maduro is believed to reside.
International Condemnation
The president of neighboring Colombia, claimed on X that "At this moment they are striking Venezuela... bombing it with missiles." He called for an immediate emergency session of the UN Security Council.
The Colombian government, which recently became a member of the UNSC, stated it would activate operational protocols at its shared border with Venezuela.
Preceding Events
The reported attacks are preceded by a extended pressure campaign by the United States against the Venezuelan regime. Since August, there has been a substantial US military deployment off the country's northern coast and a number of air strikes on ships linked to illegal activities.
The administration has announced "a state of external threat" and commanded all national defence protocols to be initiated. It has also urged its citizens to take to the streets and "repudiate this external aggression."
American officials and the Pentagon did not publicly responded to inquiries for a statement regarding the reports.
