Explosions and low-flying aircraft were reported in the Venezuelan capital Caracas in the early hours of Saturday, with claims emerging that the United States had launched military strikes against the country.
Gustavo Petro, president of neighbouring Colombia, wrote on social media platform X that Venezuela was under attack. “Right now they are bombing Caracas … bombing it with missiles,” Petro wrote, calling for an emergency session of the UN Security Council.
Explosions rock Caracas as reports emerge of US strikes on Venezuela
CBS News subsequently reported that Donald Trump had ordered the attacks, including strikes on military facilities.
At least seven explosions were heard at approximately 2AM local time, prompting residents in multiple neighbourhoods to leave their homes, according to the Associated Press.
Witnesses reported seeing smoke from two military installations in Caracas: the La Carlota military airfield in the city centre and the Fuerte Tiuna military base, where Nicolás Maduro, Venezuela’s president, has been thought to reside. Higuerote airport, east of Caracas, also appeared to have been targeted.
Venezuela rejects US ‘military aggression’ as explosions hit Caracas and surrounding states
Venezuela’s government issued a statement rejecting what it called “military aggression” by the United States.
“People to the streets!” the statement said. “The Bolivarian Government calls on all social and political forces in the country to activate mobilisation plans and repudiate this imperialist attack.”
The statement added that Maduro had “ordered all national defence plans to be implemented” and declared “a state of external disturbance”.
The government later confirmed that attacks had taken place in Caracas and the states of Miranda, Aragua and La Guaira, according to Reuters.
The explosions follow a five-month pressure campaign by the US against Maduro. Since August, Trump has ordered a military buildup off Venezuela’s northern coast and conducted airstrikes on what were described as “narco boats”.
Trump has made repeated promises of land operations in Venezuela as part of efforts to pressure Maduro to leave office. These efforts have included expanded sanctions, increased US military presence in the region and more than two dozen strikes on vessels allegedly involved in drug trafficking in the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea.
The US has also seized oil tankers under sanctions off the coast of Venezuela. Trump ordered a blockade of others in what appeared to be an attempt to tighten pressure on Venezuela’s economy.
