Explosions and Low-Flying Planes Heard in Venezuelan Capital Caracas City
Reports surfaced of numerous detonations and the sound of low-flying jets in Caracas in the early hours of Saturday. This incident has led to claims from Venezuela's authorities and calls for global action.
Caracas Blames US of Military Action
The authoritarian government has blamed the US of an act of "foreign aggression," claiming that ex- President Donald Trump allegedly directed military strikes against the Latin American country. In an formal statement, the government asserted that strikes had targeted the capital and several other states: Miranda state, La Guaira state, and Aragua.
"The primary goal of this attack is to gain control of our nation's natural resources, in particular its crude oil and minerals," Venezuela asserted.
Caracas appealed to the global community to condemn the strikes, which it described a "blatant breach of international norms" that endangered countless of lives in peril.
Reports of Blasts and Defense Installations Targeted
Eyewitnesses spoke of experiencing approximately seven detonations around the middle of the night in the morning. Residents in several neighborhoods allegedly ran into the open.
"The whole ground shook. It was horrible. We experienced blasts and aircraft in the area," said one resident.
Plumes of smoke was reported rising from major defense sites in the city: the La Carlota airbase military airfield and the Fuerte Tiuna base army base, where leader Maduro is reported to live.
International Reaction
The leader of bordering Colombia, claimed on social media that "At this moment they are striking Caracas... bombing it with projectiles." He demanded an swift meeting of the Security Council.
Colombia, which just joined the Security Council, announced it would activate defense plans at its shared border with its neighbor.
Context
The alleged strikes follow a months-long pressure campaign by the US against the Venezuelan administration. Since August, there has been a major naval presence off Venezuela's northern coast and a series of airstrikes on boats linked to drug trafficking.
Venezuela's administration has announced "the implementation of external disturbance" and directed all national defence measures to be implemented. It has also urged its political forces to take to the streets and "repudiate this external aggression."
US authorities and the US Department of Defense did not publicly addressed requests for comment regarding the events.
