Explosions and Low-Flying Aircraft Heard in Venezuela's Capital City Caracas City
Witness testimonies surfaced of several blasts and the sound of low-flying jets in Caracas in the pre-dawn hours of Saturday. This incident has prompted claims from the Venezuelan authorities and requests for international intervention.
Caracas Blames United States of Aggression
Venezuela's socialist regime has accused the Washington of an act of "imperial aggression," stating that ex- President Donald Trump supposedly ordered attacks against the South American state. In an public declaration, the government asserted that strikes had targeted Caracas and several other regions: Miranda, La Guaira state, and Aragua state.
"The sole aim of this aggression is to take control of our nation's natural resources, notably its oil and minerals," Venezuela declared.
Caracas called on the global community to condemn the actions, which it described a "clear infringement of international law" that endangered countless of lives at risk in peril.
Reports of Blasts and Military Sites Targeted
Locals spoke of experiencing roughly several detonations around 2:00 AM local time. Citizens in several districts reportedly hurried into the open.
"Everything shook. This is frightening. We heard blasts and planes in the sky," said one resident.
Black smoke was reported rising from two military installations in the city: the La Carlota air base and the Fuerte Tiuna base army base, where leader Maduro is reported to live.
International Response
The leader of neighboring Colombia, Gustavo Petro, stated on a social platform that "Right now they are attacking Venezuela... bombing it with rockets." He requested an swift emergency session of the Security Council.
The Colombian government, which just joined the UNSC, announced it would initiate operational plans at its frontier with its neighbor.
Background
These alleged strikes are preceded by a months-long military buildup by the Trump administration against the Maduro regime. Since August, there has been a major American military buildup off Venezuela's Caribbean coast and a series of air strikes on vessels accused of narco-trafficking.
Venezuela's government has declared "the implementation of external disturbance" and directed all national defense plans to be implemented. It has also called on its supporters to take to the streets and "reject this foreign attack."
The White House and the Defense Department have not publicly commented on inquiries for comment regarding the events.
