Blasts and Low-Altitude Planes Heard in Venezuela's Capital City Caracas
Witness testimonies surfaced of numerous explosions and the noise of low-altitude jets in the Venezuelan capital in the pre-dawn hours of Saturday morning. The event has sparked accusations from the Venezuelan authorities and requests for international action.
Caracas Blames United States of Attack
The incumbent government has blamed the Washington of an act of "imperial aggression," claiming that ex- President Trump supposedly ordered strikes against the South American state. In an official statement, the government asserted that attacks had impacted the capital and several other provinces: Miranda state, La Guaira, and Aragua.
"The only objective of these strikes is to gain control of our nation's strategic resources, notably its oil and minerals," the government said.
The government called on the global community to denounce the strikes, which it labeled a "clear infringement of international law" that endangered numerous of civilians in jeopardy.
Reports of Blasts and Defense Bases Targeted
Residents spoke of feeling approximately several powerful blasts around the middle of the night in the morning. Citizens in several neighborhoods allegedly hurried into the streets outside.
"The whole ground shook. It was terrifying. We experienced blasts and jets in the sky," said one witness.
Smoke was reported rising from two army bases in Caracas: the La Carlota military airfield and the Fuerte Tiuna army base, where leader Nicolás Maduro is believed to have a residence.
International Response
The president of neighboring Colombia, claimed on a social platform that "Right now they are bombing Venezuela... attacking it with rockets." He requested an swift emergency meeting of the Security Council.
Colombia, which recently became a member of the Security Council, said it would initiate defense plans at its shared border with its neighbor.
Background
The alleged strikes follow a extended pressure campaign by the United States against the Maduro government. Since last summer, there has been a significant American military deployment off the country's northern coast and a number of airstrikes on vessels suspected of illegal activities.
The administration has declared "a state of external threat" and commanded all national defence protocols to be initiated. It has also called on its citizens to protest and "repudiate this foreign attack."
US authorities and the Defense Department did not immediately commented on inquiries for clarification regarding the allegations.
