Caracas: Venezuela has strongly criticised the Donald Trump-led United States government following a series of loud explosions reported in the capital Caracas early Saturday, accusing Washington of carrying out what it termed “extremely serious military aggression,” according to local media reports.
In its first official reaction since the incident, the Venezuelan government alleged that the apparent attack was aimed at seizing the country’s strategic resources, particularly oil and minerals, and attempting to forcibly undermine Venezuela’s political independence. The statement sharply condemned the United States, blaming it for escalating tensions in the region.
Residents across several parts of Caracas reported hearing loud explosions and sounds resembling aircraft flyovers around 2:00 a.m. local time. Media reports said at least seven powerful blasts shook the city, triggering panic and forcing many people to rush out of their homes in fear.
President Nicolás Maduro has declared a national emergency in the wake of the explosions. Videos circulating on social media showed plumes of smoke rising from multiple locations in the capital, though the authenticity of the footage could not be independently verified.
According to reports, brief power outages were recorded in some areas of Caracas, including at a military base, while partial disruptions to telecommunication services were also reported. Authorities have not yet released official details regarding casualties or the extent of damage, stating that investigations are ongoing.
The incident comes amid heightened tensions between Washington and Caracas. US President Donald Trump has on several occasions warned of possible ground operations in Venezuela as part of efforts to oust the Maduro government, while also intensifying sanctions and increasing military presence in the region under what the US describes as an anti-narcotics strategy.
Recently, the US administration imposed sanctions on 10 entities and individuals in Iran and Venezuela, accusing Tehran of supplying conventional weapons to Caracas and threatening US interests across the Western Hemisphere. The US Department of State and the Treasury Department said a Venezuelan company targeted by the sanctions was involved in the sale of Iranian-designed combat unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
Other sanctioned entities and individuals were accused of supporting procurement networks linked to Iran’s drone and ballistic missile programmes. “The entities and individuals designated today demonstrate Iran is actively proliferating its combat UAVs and continues to procure missile-related items in violation of UN restrictions,” said State Department Principal Deputy Spokesperson Tommy Pigott.
Treasury Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence John K. Hurley said the administration would continue to block access to the US financial system for those enabling Iran’s military-industrial complex. The US Treasury has also warned that Iran’s UAV and missile programmes pose threats to US and allied forces and disrupt commercial shipping.
Relations between the United States and Venezuela have remained strained for years, with Caracas repeatedly accusing Washington of pursuing regime change and expanding its military footprint in the region. Tensions further escalated in December last year when the CIA carried out a drone strike on a dock facility along Venezuela’s coast, the first known land strike by the Trump administration inside the country. The strike reportedly targeted a remote dock believed by US officials to be used for drug trafficking operations.