Explosions and Low-Altitude Planes Reported in Venezuelan Capital City Caracas
Reports emerged of numerous detonations and the sound of low-altitude jets in the Venezuelan capital in the pre-dawn hours of the weekend. The event has led to accusations from Venezuela's authorities and requests for international scrutiny.
Venezuela Accuses United States of Attack
Venezuela's socialist regime has accused the Washington of an act of "foreign aggression," stating that former President Trump supposedly directed attacks against the South American country. In an formal announcement, the authorities asserted that strikes had impacted the capital and three other regions: Miranda, La Guaira, and Aragua.
"Our only objective of these strikes is to seize control of Venezuela's natural resources, in particular its oil and resources," the government declared.
The government urged the global community to condemn the actions, which it described a "flagrant violation of international law" that endangered countless of civilians in jeopardy.
Accounts of Explosions and Defense Bases Hit
Residents described experiencing at least multiple powerful blasts around the middle of the night in the morning. Residents in several neighborhoods allegedly ran into the open.
"Everything shook. It was horrible. We heard explosions and jets in the distance," commented one resident.
Plumes of smoke was reported pouring from two army bases in the city: the La Carlota military airfield and the Fuerte Tiuna base compound, where president Nicolás Maduro is thought to live.
Regional Response
The president of bordering Colombia, Gustavo Petro, stated on social media that "At this moment they are striking Caracas... bombing it with projectiles." He demanded an urgent meeting of the UN Security Council.
Colombia, which just became a member of the Security Council, said it would initiate operational protocols at its frontier with Venezuela.
Background
The alleged attacks follow a extended campaign of pressure by the United States against the Venezuelan regime. Since August, there has been a significant US military deployment off Venezuela's Caribbean coast and a series of strikes on vessels accused of illegal activities.
The government has declared "a state of external disturbance" and ordered all defense measures to be implemented. It has also urged its political forces to protest and "denounce this external act."
The White House and the US Department of Defense did not immediately commented on requests for comment regarding the events.
