🔗 Share this article Blasts and Low-Flying Jets Reported in Venezuela's Capital City Caracas Witness testimonies surfaced of numerous detonations and the noise of low-altitude aircraft in the Venezuelan capital in the small hours of Saturday. This event has sparked claims from Venezuela's authorities and demands for international scrutiny. Caracas Blames United States of Military Action Venezuela's socialist regime has blamed the United States of an act of "foreign aggression," alleging that ex- President Donald Trump allegedly directed attacks against the South American state. In an formal statement, the government confirmed that attacks had hit the capital and three other regions: Miranda, La Guaira state, and Aragua state. "Our only objective of this attack is to seize control of Venezuela's natural resources, in particular its crude oil and mineral wealth," the government said. The government appealed to the global community to condemn the operations, which it labeled a "flagrant violation of international norms" that placed countless of civilians in jeopardy. Reports of Blasts and Military Bases Targeted Residents spoke of hearing roughly multiple powerful blasts around the middle of the night local time. People in several neighborhoods reportedly rushed into the streets. "Everything shook. It was frightening. We experienced explosions and jets in the area," stated one local. Smoke was observed rising from key army bases in the city: the La Carlota airfield and the Fuerte Tiuna base compound, where president Maduro is reported to live. Regional Reaction The leader of neighboring Colombia, claimed on a social platform that "Currently they are striking Venezuela... attacking it with projectiles." He requested an urgent emergency meeting of the UN Security Council. The Colombian government, which just became a member of the UNSC, announced it would initiate security plans at its shared border with its neighbor. Background The reported attacks come after a extended pressure campaign by the US against the Venezuelan government. Beginning in August, authorities reported a substantial American military deployment off Venezuela's northern coast and a series of strikes on vessels accused of drug trafficking. Venezuela's government has announced "the implementation of external disturbance" and ordered all defense protocols to be initiated. It has also summoned its supporters to take to the streets and "repudiate this external aggression." US authorities and the Defense Department did not immediately commented on requests for comment regarding the events.