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Witness testimonies surfaced of several blasts and the roar of low-flying aircraft in Caracas in the pre-dawn hours of the weekend. The incident has led to claims from the Venezuelan leadership and demands for international action.

Venezuela Accuses US of Attack

The socialist regime has accused the United States of committing "foreign aggression," alleging that ex- President Trump supposedly directed attacks against the South American state. In an formal declaration, the government confirmed that attacks had impacted the capital and several other regions: Miranda state, La Guaira state, and Aragua.

"The sole aim of these strikes is to take control of Venezuela's key assets, in particular its oil and resources," the statement declared.

Caracas urged the world to censure the actions, which it described a "blatant breach of international norms" that placed millions of lives at risk in jeopardy.

Accounts of Explosions and Military Bases Targeted

Eyewitnesses spoke of feeling roughly multiple explosions around the middle of the night local time. People in several districts reportedly ran into the streets outside.

"The whole ground shook. This is terrifying. We heard blasts and planes in the sky," said one witness.

Plumes of smoke was seen rising from major army bases in Caracas: the La Carlota air base and the Fuerte Tiuna compound, where president Nicolás Maduro is believed to have a residence.

Regional Response

The leader of bordering Colombia, Gustavo Petro, stated on a social platform that "Right now they are attacking Venezuela... attacking it with projectiles." He called for an urgent meeting of the United Nations Security Council.

The Colombian government, which just became a member of the Security Council, announced it would activate operational measures at its shared border with its neighbor.

Background

These alleged strikes come after a extended military buildup by the Trump administration against the Maduro regime. Beginning in last summer, there has been a major American military presence off Venezuela's northern coast and a number of strikes on boats suspected of narco-trafficking.

Venezuela's government has announced "the implementation of emergency" and ordered all national defence protocols to be initiated. It has also urged its political forces to mobilize and "denounce this foreign aggression."

American officials and the US Department of Defense have not immediately addressed inquiries for a statement regarding the events.