The Venezuelan government “repudiates and denounces” a “very serious military aggression” aimed at “seizing its resources”
Colombian President Gustavo Petro demands an immediate meeting of the United Nations Security Council
The Venezuelan government denounced on Saturday a series of airstrikes carried out by the United States against “Venezuelan territory and population in civilian and military locations” in the country’s capital, Caracas, and the states of Miranda (where the city is located), Aragua, and La Guaira, condemning it as a “very serious military aggression against Venezuelan territory and population.”
In the absence of an official announcement, White House sources confirmed to Fox News on condition of anonymity that the United States Army has indeed begun a military operation in Venezuelan territory as a measure of pressure against President Nicolás Maduro.
In its first reaction to the series of explosions that rocked the country this morning, the Venezuelan government points directly to the United States as responsible for carrying out a series of attacks that, according to the authorities of the Latin American country, aim to “seize Venezuela’s strategic resources, particularly its oil and minerals, attempting to forcibly break Venezuela’s political independence.”
The attacks denounced by the Venezuelan government further escalate the enormous diplomatic and military tension that has prevailed in recent months between Venezuela and the United States. It is worth remembering that US President Donald Trump ordered the naval deployment of warships off the coast of Venezuela, seized oil tankers departing from its ports, and openly threatened to attack Venezuelan territory under the pretext of fighting drugs.
EXPLOSIONS IN CARACAS
For now, there is no detailed information about the attacks. Residents of Caracas told Bloomberg early this morning that they had heard the sound of several explosions in the city and seen planes flying over the Venezuelan capital, which was also filled with the sound of gunfire. Local media outlets are reporting explosions at several military bases and security positions, including the Fuerte Tiuna military complex, the La Carlota barracks, and the Higuerote airport.
Among the first international reactions is that of Colombian President Gustavo Petro, also a target of the United States, who declared on his X account that what is happening right now is a “bombing” of the Venezuelan capital and requested the immediate intervention of international institutions, starting with the Security Council, of which his country has been a member since January 1st.
“At this moment, Caracas is being bombed. Alert to the whole world, Venezuela has been attacked. They are bombing with missiles. The OAS and the UN must meet immediately,” Petro stated, immediately before calling for an “immediate” meeting of the Security Council to “establish the international legality of the aggression against Venezuela.”
Cuban President Miguel DÃaz-Canel also denounced a “criminal attack by the US on Venezuela” and urgently demanded a “reaction from the international community.” “Our zone of peace is being brutally assaulted. State terrorism against the brave Venezuelan people and against Our America.” “Homeland or Death! We will prevail!” he posted on his X account.
VENEZUELA DECLARES NATIONAL STATE OF EMERGENCY
Given the situation, the Venezuelan government has declared a state of general mobilization and national emergency with the immediate deployment of the defense command “in all states and municipalities of the country.”
In parallel, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has ordered the launch of a diplomatic offensive, filing formal complaints regarding the attack with the UN Security Council, the UN Secretary-General, the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), and the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) to “demand condemnation and accountability from the U.S. government.”
The Venezuelan government also warns that, “in strict accordance with Article 51 of the United Nations Charter, Venezuela reserves the right to exercise its legitimate right of self-defense to protect its people, its territory, and its independence,” and finally calls upon “the peoples and governments of Latin America, the Caribbean, and the world to mobilize in active solidarity against this imperialist aggression.”
