🔗 Share this article Detonations and Low-Flying Jets Witnessed in Venezuela's Capital Caracas Witness testimonies surfaced of several explosions and the sound of low-flying aircraft in Caracas in the small hours of Saturday morning. The event has prompted accusations from Venezuela's leadership and demands for international scrutiny. Venezuela Accuses United States of Military Action Venezuela's authoritarian regime has blamed the United States of what it calls "foreign aggression," claiming that former President Donald Trump supposedly ordered attacks against the South American country. In an formal announcement, the government stated that attacks had impacted the capital and three other regions: Miranda state, La Guaira, and Aragua state. "Our primary goal of this attack is to seize control of Venezuela's key assets, especially its crude oil and minerals," Venezuela said. Caracas called on the world to denounce the actions, which it labeled a "flagrant violation of international norms" that put numerous of civilians in peril. Reports of Blasts and Defense Sites Hit Residents described feeling roughly multiple powerful blasts around the middle of the night in the morning. People in several neighborhoods allegedly ran into the streets. "The whole ground shook. This is frightening. We heard explosions and planes in the sky," stated one witness. Black smoke was seen rising from key army bases in Caracas: the La Carlota airbase airfield and the Fuerte Tiuna army base, where president Nicolás Maduro is thought to live. Regional Condemnation The leader of bordering Colombia, wrote on X that "At this moment they are bombing Venezuela... attacking it with projectiles." He requested an urgent emergency session of the UN Security Council. Colombia, which just joined the Security Council, announced it would activate operational protocols at its border with its neighbor. Preceding Events These alleged strikes are preceded by a months-long campaign of pressure by the US against the Maduro administration. Since last summer, authorities reported a substantial American military buildup off the country's Caribbean coast and a number of airstrikes on ships linked to narco-trafficking. The administration has announced "the implementation of external threat" and commanded all national defence measures to be initiated. It has also urged its political forces to mobilize and "reject this external act." The White House and the Pentagon have not promptly responded to inquiries for a statement regarding the reports.