Caracas- Venezuela has declared a national emergency after a series of explosions and low-flying aircraft were reported in the capital Caracas early Saturday, prompting the government of President Nicolás Maduro to accuse the United States of launching a serious military attack on Venezuelan territory.
According to journalists and residents, at least seven explosions were heard around 2:00 a.m. local time in different parts of Caracas, along with the sound of aircraft flying overhead. Explosions were also reported in La Guaira, north of the capital, where the country’s main airport and port are located. Several neighborhoods experienced power outages, while smoke was seen rising from at least one military installation in the capital.
In a strongly worded statement, the Venezuelan government said it “rejects, repudiates, and denounces before the international community the extremely serious military aggression perpetrated by the current government of the United States of America against Venezuelan territory and people.” The statement claimed that both civilian and military facilities were targeted in multiple states.
President Maduro declared a state of emergency, formally described as a “state of external disturbance,” ordering the full implementation of national defense plans. The emergency measure allows the government to suspend certain civil rights and expand the role of the armed forces.
As the blasts began, confusion and fear spread across Caracas. Residents rushed out of their homes or gathered on rooftops to understand what was happening. Emmanuel Parabavis, a resident of the El Valle district, said explosions could be heard near Fort Tiuna, one of the country’s largest military bases. Another resident, Francis Peña, said his family began preparing emergency bags with documents, cash, and basic supplies after hearing what sounded like planes and detonations.
The Venezuelan government also called on its supporters to mobilize. “People to the streets!” the official statement said, urging social and political groups to protest what it described as an “imperialist attack.”
The White House and the Pentagon have not issued any immediate comment on the alleged strikes. However, U.S. media outlets, including Fox News and CBS News, reported that U.S. forces were conducting military operations against Venezuela, marking a dramatic escalation after months of tension.
Shortly after the explosions, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration issued a “Notice to Airmen,” banning all U.S. commercial and private flights from Venezuelan airspace and nearby Curaçao due to “safety-of-flight risks associated with ongoing military activity.”
Regional and international reactions followed quickly. Colombian President Gustavo Petro called for an emergency meeting of the United Nations, saying the world must be alerted that Venezuela had been attacked.
The incident comes amid heightened tensions between Washington and Caracas. U.S. President Donald Trump has for months threatened strikes against Venezuelan targets, while deploying an aircraft carrier and warships to the Caribbean under what was initially described as an anti-drug operation. The U.S. has accused Maduro of leading a drug cartel, allegations he denies, claiming instead that Washington seeks to overthrow his government to gain access to Venezuela’s vast oil reserves.
In recent weeks, the U.S. has tightened sanctions, seized Venezuelan oil tankers, restricted airspace, and carried out dozens of strikes on boats it says were linked to drug trafficking. According to U.S. figures, those operations have killed more than 100 people since September.
As of early Saturday, vehicles were still moving in Caracas, but uncertainty remained high, with parts of the city without electricity and residents bracing for further developments.
