Blasts and Low-Flying Jets Heard in Venezuelan Capital City Caracas City

Accounts emerged of multiple explosions and the roar of low-altitude aircraft in the Venezuelan capital in the small hours of the weekend. The situation has led to allegations from Venezuela's authorities and requests for global scrutiny.

Caracas Accuses US of Military Action

Venezuela's authoritarian government has blamed the Washington of what it calls "imperial aggression," stating that ex- President Trump supposedly ordered attacks against the South American country. In an public statement, the government stated that attacks had targeted the capital and three other states: Miranda state, La Guaira state, and Aragua.

"The sole aim of these strikes is to gain control of Venezuela's strategic resources, especially its oil and mineral wealth," the government asserted.

Caracas called on the international community to condemn the actions, which it labeled a "clear infringement of international norms" that endangered millions of civilians in peril.

Reports of Explosions and Defense Installations Targeted

Locals reported experiencing at least several explosions around 2 a.m. local time. People in different districts allegedly ran into the open.

"The whole ground shook. This is horrible. We heard blasts and planes in the area," commented one local.

Smoke was observed pouring from key army bases in the city: the La Carlota air base and the Fuerte Tiuna base army base, where leader Nicolás Maduro is reported to have a residence.

International Response

The president of neighboring Colombia, Gustavo Petro, claimed on X that "At this moment they are bombing Venezuela... bombing it with missiles." He demanded an immediate meeting of the UN Security Council.

Colombia, which just became a member of the UNSC, said it would activate operational protocols at its frontier with its neighbor.

Context

The reported strikes follow a prolonged pressure campaign by the Trump administration against the Venezuelan administration. Beginning in last summer, authorities reported a substantial US military buildup off the country's northern coast and a series of airstrikes on ships linked to narco-trafficking.

The administration has announced "a state of external disturbance" and ordered all national defense measures to be activated. It has also urged its supporters to mobilize and "reject this imperialist aggression."

The White House and the US Department of Defense have not publicly addressed requests for comment regarding the reports.