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Reports surfaced of multiple explosions and the roar of low-flying jets in the Venezuelan capital in the pre-dawn hours of Saturday morning. This incident has prompted allegations from Venezuela's leadership and calls for diplomatic intervention.

Caracas Condemns United States of Aggression

Venezuela's authoritarian administration has blamed the Washington of what it calls "imperialist aggression," alleging that ex- President Donald Trump reportedly ordered strikes against the Latin American state. In an formal declaration, the authorities stated that strikes had impacted the capital and three other regions: Miranda state, La Guaira, and Aragua.

"Our sole aim of this attack is to take control of our nation's natural resources, notably its oil and resources," the government asserted.

Caracas called on the international community to censure the actions, which it labeled a "clear infringement of international norms" that placed millions of lives at risk in peril.

Accounts of Blasts and Defense Sites Hit

Eyewitnesses described experiencing roughly multiple detonations around 2 a.m. in the morning. People in different districts reportedly hurried into the open.

"The earth trembled. This is frightening. We heard explosions and aircraft in the sky," stated one resident.

Black smoke was reported billowing from key defense sites in Caracas: the La Carlota airbase airfield and the Fuerte Tiuna military base, where president Nicolás Maduro is thought to live.

Global Reaction

The leader of neighboring Colombia, Gustavo Petro, claimed on a social platform that "Currently they are attacking Caracas... bombing it with rockets." He called for an immediate meeting of the United Nations Security Council.

The Colombian government, which just joined the Security Council, said it would initiate operational protocols at its border with Venezuela.

Background

These alleged strikes come after a prolonged campaign of pressure by the United States against the Maduro regime. Since August, there has been a major naval buildup off Venezuela's northern coast and a series of airstrikes on boats accused of drug trafficking.

Venezuela's government has declared "a state of emergency" and commanded all defense protocols to be activated. It has also urged its citizens to protest and "denounce this imperialist act."

The White House and the US Department of Defense have not promptly addressed inquiries for a statement regarding the allegations.