Overview
- Multiple powerful blasts and aircraft-like sounds were reported around 2 a.m. in Caracas, with fires and outages observed near sites including the Fort Tiuna military complex.
- The government labeled the events a “very grave military aggression” by the United States, declared a state of exception, and called for nationwide mobilization across Caracas and the states of Miranda, Aragua, and La Guaira.
- CBS News, Fox News, and Reuters reported U.S. involvement in strikes citing anonymous administration officials, while the White House and Pentagon did not comment.
- Regional leaders reacted sharply, with Colombia’s Gustavo Petro urging urgent UN and OAS meetings and Cuba’s Miguel Díaz-Canel denouncing a “criminal attack,” as the U.S. FAA restricted flights over Venezuela due to a potentially hazardous situation.
- The overnight blasts followed weeks of U.S. counter-narcotics operations and tighter oil sanctions, after President Trump touted a destroyed Venezuelan docking area and as Nicolás Maduro had signaled readiness to discuss narcotics, oil, and economic accords.