Explosions and Low-Flying Jets Witnessed in Venezuela's Capital Caracas City
Accounts surfaced of several detonations and the noise of low-flying jets in the Venezuelan capital in the pre-dawn hours of the weekend. This incident has prompted accusations from the Venezuelan authorities and requests for global action.
Venezuela Condemns Washington of Attack
The socialist administration has condemned the US of what it calls "imperial aggression," claiming that ex- President Trump reportedly ordered strikes against the Latin American state. In an official statement, the government asserted that strikes had hit Caracas and several other regions: Miranda state, La Guaira state, and Aragua state.
"Our sole aim of this attack is to seize control of Venezuela's natural resources, in particular its petroleum and minerals," Venezuela said.
Caracas urged the global community to condemn the operations, which it described a "clear infringement of global law" that put countless of civilians in peril.
Accounts of Explosions and Military Installations Hit
Residents spoke of hearing roughly several explosions around 2 a.m. in the morning. People in different neighborhoods allegedly hurried into the streets.
"The whole ground shook. It was frightening. We experienced blasts and jets in the area," said one resident.
Black smoke was seen billowing from major defense sites in the city: the La Carlota airbase airfield and the Fuerte Tiuna army base, where president Nicolás Maduro is believed to have a residence.
Global Reaction
The president of bordering Colombia, wrote on a social platform that "Right now they are attacking Caracas... bombing it with rockets." He requested an urgent emergency meeting of the UN Security Council.
The Colombian government, which just became a member of the Security Council, said it would initiate operational plans at its shared border with its neighbor.
Background
These reported attacks are preceded by a months-long campaign of pressure by the United States against the Maduro administration. Since August, authorities reported a major American military deployment off Venezuela's northern coast and a number of air strikes on ships accused of illegal activities.
The government has declared "the implementation of external disturbance" and directed all national defence protocols to be initiated. It has also urged its political forces to mobilize and "repudiate this foreign act."
US authorities and the Defense Department did not immediately responded to inquiries for a statement regarding the allegations.
