Blasts and Low-Altitude Aircraft Reported in Venezuela's Capital City Caracas
Reports surfaced of several explosions and the noise of low-altitude jets in the Venezuelan capital in the early hours of the weekend. This situation has sparked claims from Venezuela's leadership and calls for global scrutiny.
Caracas Condemns United States of Aggression
Venezuela's incumbent administration has accused the Washington of an act of "imperialist aggression," stating that ex- President Donald Trump allegedly directed strikes against the South American state. In an public announcement, the authorities asserted that strikes had targeted Caracas and several other regions: Miranda state, La Guaira state, and Aragua state.
"The primary goal of this aggression is to gain control of our nation's natural resources, especially its oil and minerals," the government asserted.
Caracas urged the global community to condemn the strikes, which it termed a "blatant breach of global law" that placed countless of lives in danger.
Reports of Blasts and Military Bases Targeted
Locals spoke of feeling approximately seven detonations around 2 a.m. in the morning. Residents in several areas allegedly rushed into the open.
"Everything shook. It was horrible. We heard blasts and aircraft in the sky," said one witness.
Black smoke was seen rising from two army bases in Caracas: the La Carlota airbase airfield and the Fuerte Tiuna base army base, where leader Nicolás Maduro is believed to reside.
Global Condemnation
The president of bordering Colombia, Gustavo Petro, claimed on a social platform that "At this moment they are bombing Venezuela... attacking it with projectiles." He demanded an urgent meeting of the Security Council.
Colombia, which just became a member of the UNSC, said it would activate security measures at its border with its neighbor.
Background
The reported strikes follow a months-long campaign of pressure by the US against the Venezuelan administration. Since last summer, there has been a substantial US military deployment off the country's northern coast and a number of airstrikes on vessels accused of narco-trafficking.
Venezuela's administration has stated "a state of external threat" and commanded all national defence measures to be initiated. It has also called on its political forces to mobilize and "repudiate this external aggression."
The White House and the Pentagon did not promptly addressed inquiries for clarification regarding the reports.
