Venezuela under attack as explosions and aircraft sounds rock Caracas

Explosions and aircraft-like sounds rocked Venezuela’s capital, Caracas, overnight, triggering power outages near a major military base. The incidents come amid escalating US pressure on President Nicolás Maduro and warnings of possible ground strikes.

WEBDESK – Imran Malik – MediaBites

Venezuela appeared to come under attack early Saturday after multiple explosions and aircraft-like sounds were reported across the capital, Caracas, triggering panic and power outages near a major military base.

Witnesses cited by Reuters said loud blasts, low-flying aircraft noises, and at least one column of smoke were seen in the early hours of January 3. Parts of southern Caracas, close to a key military installation, were left without electricity, raising fears of a targeted strike. Explosions were still being heard around 2:15 a.m., though officials had not confirmed the exact locations.

The developments come amid heightened tensions between United States and Venezuela, after US President Donald Trump deployed a navy task force to the Caribbean and openly raised the possibility of ground strikes.

Earlier this week, Trump said the United States had hit and destroyed a docking area allegedly used by Venezuelan drug boats. He declined to say whether the operation was carried out by the military or the CIA, describing it only as occurring “along the shore.” If confirmed, it would mark the first known land strike on Venezuelan soil.

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has neither confirmed nor denied the reported strike but said on Thursday that he was open to cooperation with Washington, despite weeks of escalating US military pressure.

The Trump administration has accused Maduro of leading a drug cartel and says its actions are aimed at cracking down on narcotics trafficking. Maduro has rejected the allegations, insisting Washington is seeking to remove him because Venezuela holds the world’s largest proven oil reserves.

In recent weeks, the US has intensified pressure on Caracas by informally closing Venezuelan airspace, imposing additional sanctions, and seizing oil tankers. US forces have also carried out dozens of maritime strikes in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific since September, targeting vessels Washington claims are linked to drug smuggling.

The campaign has already proven deadly. According to US military figures, at least 107 people have been killed in around 30 strikes, though the administration has provided no public evidence that the targeted boats were involved in drug trafficking, fueling debate over the legality of the operations.

As dawn broke over Caracas, uncertainty remained high, with Venezuelans awaiting official clarification on what many fear could be a dangerous new phase in the standoff between Washington and Caracas.