Blasts and Low-Altitude Jets Heard in Venezuelan Capital City Caracas

Reports circulated of numerous explosions and the sound of low-altitude jets in Caracas in the small hours of Saturday morning. This situation has prompted allegations from the Venezuelan authorities and requests for diplomatic scrutiny.

Caracas Blames United States of Aggression

The authoritarian administration has accused the United States of what it calls "imperialist aggression," claiming that ex- President Donald Trump supposedly authorized strikes against the Latin American state. In an official declaration, the authorities stated that attacks had impacted Caracas and several other regions: Miranda state, La Guaira state, and Aragua state.

"Our primary goal of this aggression is to seize control of our nation's key assets, in particular its petroleum and minerals," the government said.

The government appealed to the world to censure the actions, which it labeled a "blatant breach of international norms" that placed countless of lives in jeopardy.

Reports of Blasts and Defense Installations Targeted

Eyewitnesses reported hearing approximately seven explosions around 2 a.m. local time. Residents in different areas allegedly hurried into the open.

"The earth trembled. It was frightening. We heard explosions and jets in the area," commented one witness.

Black smoke was reported rising from key military installations in the city: the La Carlota airfield and the Fuerte Tiuna compound, where leader Nicolás Maduro is reported to have a residence.

Global Response

The president of bordering Colombia, claimed on a social platform that "At this moment they are bombing Venezuela... bombing it with missiles." He requested an urgent emergency meeting of the Security Council.

The Colombian government, which just joined the UNSC, announced it would initiate security plans at its frontier with Venezuela.

Context

These reported attacks follow a months-long campaign of pressure by the Trump administration against the Maduro administration. Since August, authorities reported a substantial naval deployment off the country's northern coast and a number of air strikes on boats accused of drug trafficking.

The government has stated "a state of emergency" and directed all defense plans to be implemented. It has also urged its political forces to protest and "repudiate this external aggression."

The White House and the Defense Department have not promptly responded to requests for a statement regarding the reports.