Witness testimonies circulated of numerous detonations and the sound of low-flying aircraft in the Venezuelan capital in the pre-dawn hours of Saturday morning. The situation has prompted allegations from Venezuela's leadership and demands for diplomatic action.
Venezuela's authoritarian regime has accused the Washington of committing "foreign aggression," alleging that ex- President Trump reportedly directed strikes against the South American country. In an official declaration, the authorities confirmed that attacks had impacted the capital and several other states: Miranda state, La Guaira, and Aragua state.
"The primary goal of this aggression is to gain control of Venezuela's strategic resources, especially its petroleum and resources," Venezuela asserted.
The government appealed to the global community to censure the actions, which it labeled a "flagrant violation of international law" that placed countless of lives in jeopardy.
Locals reported hearing roughly multiple powerful blasts around 2 a.m. local time. People in different neighborhoods reportedly ran into the streets outside.
"The earth trembled. It was terrifying. We experienced blasts and planes in the distance," commented one witness.
Plumes of smoke was reported pouring from two military installations in Caracas: the La Carlota air base and the Fuerte Tiuna base military base, where president Maduro is reported to live.
The leader of bordering Colombia, claimed on X that "Right now they are bombing Venezuela... attacking it with missiles." He requested an immediate emergency session of the UN Security Council.
Colombia, which recently joined the Security Council, announced it would activate defense plans at its border with Venezuela.
The alleged attacks are preceded by a months-long campaign of pressure by the US against the Venezuelan regime. Since last summer, authorities reported a significant naval presence off Venezuela's Caribbean coast and a series of air strikes on boats accused of drug trafficking.
The government has stated "a state of external disturbance" and ordered all national defence protocols to be implemented. It has also summoned its citizens to mobilize and "repudiate this foreign attack."
American officials and the US Department of Defense did not immediately commented on requests for a statement regarding the allegations.
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