WASHINGTON/Caracas (Web Desk) The United States has conducted military strikes inside Venezuela, a US official confirmed, as explosions shook Caracas and other parts of the country early Friday following months of escalating threats by President Donald Trump against Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.
Venezuela’s government said the attacks also hit the states of Miranda, Aragua and La Guaira, prompting Maduro to declare a national emergency and order the mobilization of defense forces nationwide.
Witnesses reported hearing powerful blasts, aircraft activity and seeing thick black smoke over parts of Caracas from around 2 a.m. local time for nearly 90 minutes. Social media videos showed bright flashes lighting up the sky as residents reacted with shock and fear.
A power outage was reported in southern areas of the capital near a major military installation, including Fort Tiuna, one of the country’s most important bases.
Trump has repeatedly warned of military action against the oil-rich South American nation and has previously spoken of possible land operations. Maduro, who has ruled since 2013, has faced sustained pressure from Washington and Venezuela’s opposition, both of which accuse him of rigging last year’s election to retain power.
While Trump has not publicly outlined specific objectives, he has privately urged Maduro to leave the country. Earlier this week, Trump said it would be “smart” for the Venezuelan leader to step aside.
The Pentagon referred all questions to the White House, which declined to comment on the operation.
In a statement, the Maduro government accused the United States of attempting to seize Venezuela’s oil and mineral wealth, vowing that Washington would fail in its objective.
The strikes come after a significant US military buildup in the region, including the deployment of an aircraft carrier, warships and advanced fighter jets in the Caribbean.
Trump has pursued a hard-line approach toward Caracas, including expanded sanctions, efforts to block Venezuelan oil exports and repeated strikes on vessels Washington claims were involved in drug trafficking in the Caribbean and Pacific.
Last week, Trump acknowledged strikes on Venezuelan territory targeting alleged drug-loading sites, marking the first confirmed land operations since his pressure campaign intensified. He did not specify whether intelligence agencies were involved, though some reports have suggested covert participation.
The US president has accused Venezuela of fueling drug flows into the United States, allegations that the Maduro government has consistently denied. Several countries have criticized the strikes, calling them violations of international law and warning of wider regional instability.
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