Explosions and Low-Flying Jets Reported in Venezuela's Capital City Caracas City
Reports surfaced of numerous detonations and the roar of low-flying aircraft in Caracas in the pre-dawn hours of the weekend. The situation has prompted allegations from the Venezuelan authorities and calls for international intervention.
Caracas Condemns US of Attack
Venezuela's incumbent regime has blamed the US of an act of "imperialist aggression," claiming that ex- President Trump reportedly authorized military strikes against the Latin American country. In an public announcement, the authorities asserted that strikes had targeted Caracas and several other provinces: Miranda state, La Guaira, and Aragua state.
"Our primary goal of these strikes is to gain control of our nation's key assets, in particular its crude oil and mineral wealth," Venezuela declared.
Caracas urged the world to denounce the actions, which it labeled a "blatant breach of international law" that endangered countless of lives in peril.
Reports of Blasts and Military Bases Hit
Eyewitnesses reported hearing at least seven explosions around the middle of the night local time. Residents in different neighborhoods reportedly hurried into the streets outside.
"The earth trembled. This is terrifying. We heard blasts and jets in the sky," stated one resident.
Plumes of smoke was reported rising from major army bases in Caracas: the La Carlota military airfield and the Fuerte Tiuna army base, where leader Maduro is thought to reside.
Global Reaction
The president of neighboring Colombia, stated on a social platform that "Right now they are attacking Caracas... bombing it with rockets." He requested an urgent emergency session of the UN Security Council.
Colombia, which recently joined the UNSC, stated it would activate operational protocols at its border with its neighbor.
Context
These reported strikes come after a extended military buildup by the United States against the Maduro government. Since August, there has been a major naval presence off Venezuela's Caribbean coast and a number of strikes on ships suspected of narco-trafficking.
The government has declared "a state of emergency" and ordered all defense measures to be activated. It has also called on its political forces to take to the streets and "denounce this external attack."
American officials and the Pentagon have not immediately addressed requests for a statement regarding the events.
