Detonations and Low-Flying Planes Witnessed in Venezuelan Capital Caracas
Witness testimonies circulated of multiple blasts and the noise of low-flying aircraft in Caracas in the pre-dawn hours of Saturday. This event has prompted accusations from Venezuela's authorities and requests for international intervention.
Venezuela Accuses Washington of Attack
The incumbent government has accused the United States of committing "foreign aggression," claiming that ex- President Donald Trump supposedly ordered attacks against the South American state. In an public announcement, the government stated that attacks had hit the capital and several other provinces: Miranda state, La Guaira, and Aragua state.
"Our primary goal of this aggression is to seize control of our nation's key assets, especially its oil and minerals," the statement declared.
The government urged the world to denounce the actions, which it described a "flagrant violation of global law" that put countless of lives at risk in jeopardy.
Reports of Blasts and Military Bases Hit
Locals described experiencing approximately multiple detonations around 2 a.m. in the morning. Citizens in various districts allegedly ran into the streets.
"The earth trembled. It was horrible. We heard blasts and planes in the distance," commented one resident.
Plumes of smoke was seen pouring from major army bases in Caracas: the La Carlota air base and the Fuerte Tiuna base army base, where leader Maduro is reported to reside.
International Condemnation
The president of neighboring Colombia, claimed on a social platform that "At this moment they are attacking Venezuela... bombing it with missiles." He called for an swift meeting of the UN Security Council.
The Colombian government, which recently became a member of the UNSC, announced it would initiate defense plans at its frontier with Venezuela.
Background
These alleged strikes follow a months-long campaign of pressure by the Trump administration against the Maduro government. Since August, authorities reported a major American military presence off Venezuela's northern coast and a series of air strikes on ships linked to narco-trafficking.
Venezuela's government has announced "a state of external threat" and ordered all national defense plans to be implemented. It has also called on its citizens to take to the streets and "denounce this imperialist act."
US authorities and the Pentagon did not publicly addressed requests for clarification regarding the reports.
