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Witness testimonies emerged of several blasts and the noise of low-altitude aircraft in Caracas in the small hours of Saturday morning. The situation has sparked accusations from the Venezuelan leadership and requests for diplomatic intervention.

Venezuela Accuses United States of Attack

Venezuela's authoritarian regime has condemned the United States of what it calls "imperial aggression," stating that ex- President Donald Trump allegedly ordered strikes against the South American state. In an public announcement, the government stated that attacks had impacted the capital and three other regions: Miranda state, La Guaira, and Aragua.

"The sole aim of this attack is to gain control of Venezuela's key assets, notably its petroleum and resources," Venezuela declared.

Caracas urged the international community to censure the strikes, which it described a "flagrant violation of international norms" that endangered countless of lives at risk in peril.

Accounts of Blasts and Military Sites Targeted

Residents spoke of experiencing approximately seven explosions around 2:00 AM in the morning. Citizens in different districts reportedly ran into the open.

"Everything shook. This is horrible. We heard blasts and planes in the area," said one local.

Plumes of smoke was reported pouring from key military installations in Caracas: the La Carlota airbase air base and the Fuerte Tiuna base army base, where leader Nicolás Maduro is thought to have a residence.

International Reaction

The leader of neighboring Colombia, Gustavo Petro, claimed on a social platform that "Currently they are attacking Venezuela... attacking it with missiles." He demanded an swift meeting of the United Nations Security Council.

Colombia, which recently joined the Security Council, announced it would initiate operational protocols at its frontier with its neighbor.

Background

The reported attacks are preceded by a prolonged pressure campaign by the Trump administration against the Venezuelan regime. Beginning in August, there has been a major naval deployment off the country's northern coast and a number of air strikes on ships suspected of narco-trafficking.

Venezuela's administration has announced "the implementation of external disturbance" and directed all national defense plans to be implemented. It has also summoned its political forces to mobilize and "denounce this imperialist aggression."

US authorities and the US Department of Defense did not publicly responded to requests for a statement regarding the events.