Explosions in Venezuela - American Attack Suspected?

Foreign media reports that a series of powerful explosions and sounds of aircraft flying were heard in Caracas, the capital of Venezuela, in the early hours of Saturday. Neighboring Colombian President Gustavo Petro has stated on social media that missile attacks are targeting Caracas and that the United Nations Security Council should be convened immediately in this regard.

According to reports, about seven explosions were heard around 2:00 AM local time, and there was a power outage in the area around a major military base located in the southern part of the city. Eyewitnesses have confirmed that a large plume of smoke is rising from the La Carlota Air Force Base in central Caracas and from the Fuerte Tiuna military base, where Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro is believed to be staying.

It is also reported that due to these sudden explosions and aircraft sounds, people in various parts of the city were terrified and came out onto the streets. An office worker named Carmen Hidalgo, who described the incident, said that the entire ground shook and she was extremely frightened by the explosions and aircraft sounds heard in the distance.

These explosions occurred against a backdrop where the United States has been exerting intense diplomatic and military pressure for several months to oust Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. US President Donald Trump has established a large military contingent off the northern coast of Venezuela and recently launched several attacks targeting vessels, claiming the objective was to suppress drug trafficking.

President Maduro has previously accused the US on several occasions of attempting to overthrow his government and seize Venezuela's oil resources through American sanctions and military threats. However, neither the Venezuelan government, the White House, nor the Pentagon has yet issued any official statement regarding these explosions reported on Saturday.