Blasts and Low-Flying Jets Reported in Venezuela's Capital City Caracas City
Witness testimonies emerged of numerous detonations and the roar of low-flying planes in Caracas in the early hours of Saturday morning. The situation has sparked accusations from Venezuela's leadership and calls for global scrutiny.
Caracas Accuses United States of Aggression
The authoritarian administration has blamed the US of what it calls "imperial aggression," stating that ex- President Trump allegedly ordered military strikes against the South American nation. In an official announcement, the authorities confirmed that strikes had impacted the capital and three other states: Miranda, La Guaira state, and Aragua state.
"The sole aim of this attack is to gain control of our nation's strategic resources, especially its crude oil and resources," the government declared.
The government urged the international community to censure the actions, which it termed a "flagrant violation of global law" that endangered numerous of lives in danger.
Accounts of Explosions and Defense Sites Targeted
Locals reported experiencing at least several detonations around the middle of the night local time. People in several areas reportedly rushed into the open.
"The whole ground shook. It was frightening. We heard explosions and planes in the distance," said one local.
Smoke was seen rising from two army bases in the city: the La Carlota airbase airfield and the Fuerte Tiuna base military base, where leader Nicolás Maduro is reported to have a residence.
Global Response
The president of bordering Colombia, claimed on a social platform that "Currently they are attacking Caracas... attacking it with rockets." He requested an swift meeting of the Security Council.
The Colombian government, which recently joined the UNSC, stated it would initiate defense plans at its frontier with its neighbor.
Context
These reported strikes come after a prolonged campaign of pressure by the United States against the Venezuelan government. Beginning in last summer, there has been a major US military presence off the country's northern coast and a number of strikes on boats linked to drug trafficking.
The government has declared "a state of external disturbance" and commanded all national defense plans to be initiated. It has also called on its supporters to take to the streets and "repudiate this external attack."
American officials and the US Department of Defense did not publicly responded to requests for a statement regarding the reports.
