Detonations and Low-Flying Planes Reported in Venezuela's Capital City Caracas
Reports circulated of several explosions and the noise of low-flying jets in the Venezuelan capital in the small hours of Saturday morning. The event has sparked claims from the Venezuelan authorities and calls for international scrutiny.
Caracas Condemns Washington of Aggression
Venezuela's authoritarian regime has blamed the US of an act of "foreign aggression," claiming that former President Trump supposedly directed military strikes against the South American state. In an official announcement, the authorities stated that attacks had targeted the capital and several other provinces: Miranda, La Guaira state, and Aragua state.
"Our primary goal of these strikes is to gain control of our nation's key assets, in particular its oil and minerals," the statement declared.
Caracas appealed to the international community to censure the operations, which it termed a "clear infringement of global law" that put millions of lives in danger.
Accounts of Blasts and Defense Sites Hit
Residents spoke of experiencing approximately multiple detonations around 2:00 AM in the morning. People in several neighborhoods allegedly ran into the open.
"The whole ground shook. It was frightening. We heard explosions and planes in the distance," stated one resident.
Plumes of smoke was observed rising from major military installations in the city: the La Carlota airfield and the Fuerte Tiuna compound, where leader Nicolás Maduro is believed to live.
International Response
The leader of neighboring Colombia, wrote on social media that "Currently they are striking Caracas... bombing it with rockets." He requested an swift meeting of the Security Council.
The Colombian government, which just joined the UNSC, said it would activate security protocols at its border with Venezuela.
Context
The alleged strikes come after a extended military buildup by the United States against the Venezuelan regime. Beginning in August, there has been a substantial naval deployment off the country's northern coast and a number of airstrikes on ships suspected of narco-trafficking.
The government has announced "a state of emergency" and ordered all national defence protocols to be initiated. It has also urged its political forces to protest and "denounce this foreign attack."
American officials and the Pentagon did not immediately responded to requests for a statement regarding the events.
