Detonations and Low-Flying Aircraft Witnessed in Venezuela's Capital Caracas
Accounts emerged of numerous detonations and the roar of low-flying aircraft in the Venezuelan capital in the pre-dawn hours of Saturday. The situation has prompted claims from Venezuela's government and requests for international scrutiny.
Caracas Condemns US of Military Action
The socialist regime has accused the United States of an act of "imperial aggression," stating that ex- President Donald Trump reportedly authorized strikes against the South American country. In an public declaration, the government asserted that strikes had impacted Caracas and several other states: Miranda state, La Guaira state, and Aragua.
"Our only objective of these strikes is to seize control of our nation's key assets, notably its oil and resources," Venezuela declared.
The government appealed to the world to condemn the actions, which it labeled a "clear infringement of international law" that placed countless of civilians in danger.
Accounts of Explosions and Military Sites Hit
Eyewitnesses spoke of feeling at least seven powerful blasts around the middle of the night local time. People in various neighborhoods reportedly rushed into the open.
"The earth trembled. This is frightening. We heard explosions and aircraft in the sky," stated one witness.
Black smoke was reported rising from major military installations in the city: the La Carlota airfield and the Fuerte Tiuna base army base, where president Maduro is reported to have a residence.
International Reaction
The president of neighboring Colombia, stated on a social platform that "Right now they are bombing Caracas... attacking it with projectiles." He requested an immediate emergency meeting of the UN Security Council.
Colombia, which just became a member of the Security Council, announced it would initiate defense measures at its shared border with its neighbor.
Background
The reported strikes are preceded by a extended campaign of pressure by the US against the Venezuelan government. Since August, there has been a significant American military presence off Venezuela's Caribbean coast and a series of strikes on boats suspected of narco-trafficking.
The government has declared "a state of external threat" and commanded all defense plans to be activated. It has also summoned its supporters to take to the streets and "repudiate this external aggression."
The White House and the US Department of Defense did not immediately responded to inquiries for a statement regarding the reports.
