Witness testimonies circulated of several explosions and the roar of low-altitude jets in Caracas in the small hours of the weekend. This incident has sparked allegations from Venezuela's leadership and demands for global scrutiny.
Venezuela's socialist regime has blamed the United States of an act of "imperialist aggression," claiming that former President Donald Trump allegedly directed attacks against the Latin American country. In an formal announcement, the authorities asserted that attacks had impacted Caracas and three other states: Miranda, La Guaira, and Aragua state.
"The sole aim of this aggression is to seize control of our nation's natural resources, notably its oil and minerals," the statement declared.
Caracas urged the international community to censure the actions, which it labeled a "flagrant violation of global law" that placed countless of civilians in jeopardy.
Locals described hearing roughly several detonations around 2:00 AM in the morning. Citizens in various districts reportedly hurried into the open.
"The earth trembled. It was horrible. We experienced explosions and jets in the area," commented one witness.
Plumes of smoke was observed pouring from major army bases in Caracas: the La Carlota airbase air base and the Fuerte Tiuna compound, where president Nicolás Maduro is thought to reside.
The president of neighboring Colombia, wrote on a social platform that "Currently they are bombing Venezuela... attacking it with projectiles." He demanded an urgent emergency session of the Security Council.
The Colombian government, which just joined the Security Council, announced it would activate security measures at its shared border with Venezuela.
These reported attacks come after a extended pressure campaign by the United States against the Maduro administration. Beginning in August, authorities reported a major American military buildup off Venezuela's northern coast and a number of air strikes on ships linked to illegal activities.
The government has declared "the implementation of external threat" and ordered all defense protocols to be initiated. It has also urged its supporters to protest and "repudiate this imperialist aggression."
US authorities and the Pentagon have not publicly responded to inquiries for clarification regarding the reports.
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