Detonations and Low-Flying Planes Witnessed in Venezuelan Capital City Caracas City
Witness testimonies emerged of multiple explosions and the roar of low-altitude jets in Caracas in the small hours of Saturday morning. The situation has sparked claims from Venezuela's leadership and requests for diplomatic action.
Caracas Condemns US of Attack
The authoritarian administration has blamed the Washington of an act of "imperial aggression," claiming that ex- President Trump supposedly authorized military strikes against the Latin American nation. In an official declaration, the authorities confirmed that attacks had targeted Caracas and several other regions: Miranda, La Guaira state, and Aragua state.
"Our only objective of this attack is to take control of our nation's strategic resources, in particular its oil and resources," the statement asserted.
The government appealed to the global community to censure the operations, which it labeled a "clear infringement of international law" that placed numerous of lives in jeopardy.
Accounts of Blasts and Military Installations Hit
Eyewitnesses described feeling at least several detonations around the middle of the night local time. People in different areas allegedly ran into the open.
"Everything shook. It was horrible. We heard explosions and jets in the area," commented one witness.
Plumes of smoke was seen billowing from two army bases in the city: the La Carlota air base and the Fuerte Tiuna base compound, where leader Nicolás Maduro is reported to have a residence.
Regional Condemnation
The leader of bordering Colombia, Gustavo Petro, claimed on a social platform that "Currently they are attacking Venezuela... attacking it with rockets." He called for an urgent emergency session of the UN Security Council.
The Colombian government, which just joined the UNSC, stated it would activate operational protocols at its shared border with its neighbor.
Background
These alleged strikes follow a months-long military buildup by the United States against the Venezuelan administration. Since August, there has been a substantial American military deployment off the country's Caribbean coast and a number of strikes on ships suspected of narco-trafficking.
The government has stated "a state of emergency" and directed all defense plans to be activated. It has also summoned its supporters to mobilize and "repudiate this external attack."
US authorities and the US Department of Defense have not immediately responded to inquiries for comment regarding the reports.
