Blasts and Low-Flying Planes Reported in Venezuela's Capital City Caracas City
Accounts surfaced of multiple blasts and the sound of low-flying planes in the Venezuelan capital in the early hours of the weekend. The incident has prompted allegations from the Venezuelan leadership and calls for international intervention.
Venezuela Blames United States of Aggression
Venezuela's authoritarian administration has blamed the US of committing "imperial aggression," claiming that ex- President Donald Trump allegedly authorized attacks against the South American country. In an official announcement, the government confirmed that attacks had targeted the capital and three other provinces: Miranda state, La Guaira, and Aragua state.
"The sole aim of these strikes is to seize control of our nation's strategic resources, notably its crude oil and resources," Venezuela asserted.
Venezuelan officials called on the world to denounce the operations, which it termed a "flagrant violation of international norms" that put countless of lives at risk in peril.
Accounts of Explosions and Defense Installations Targeted
Eyewitnesses described feeling at least multiple detonations around 2 a.m. local time. Residents in several neighborhoods reportedly ran into the streets.
"The earth trembled. This is frightening. We heard blasts and jets in the area," commented one local.
Black smoke was observed pouring from major army bases in the city: the La Carlota air base and the Fuerte Tiuna base compound, where president Maduro is thought to live.
Regional Reaction
The president of bordering Colombia, Gustavo Petro, wrote on a social platform that "At this moment they are attacking Venezuela... attacking it with rockets." He requested an swift meeting of the United Nations Security Council.
Colombia, which recently became a member of the UNSC, announced it would activate defense measures at its frontier with Venezuela.
Background
The alleged strikes come after a prolonged campaign of pressure by the Trump administration against the Maduro administration. Since August, authorities reported a major American military deployment off the country's Caribbean coast and a series of strikes on ships linked to drug trafficking.
Venezuela's administration has stated "a state of external threat" and ordered all defense measures to be initiated. It has also called on its citizens to mobilize and "reject this external attack."
US authorities and the US Department of Defense did not immediately responded to inquiries for clarification regarding the allegations.
