The United States has carried out military strikes inside Venezuela, as explosions rocked the capital Caracas following months of threats by President Donald Trump against Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro.
The Venezuelan government said attacks also took place in the states of Miranda, Aragua and La Guaira, prompting Maduro to declare a national emergency and mobilize defence forces.
Blasts, aircraft and black smoke could be seen across Caracas from about 2 a.m. (0600 GMT) for roughly 90 minutes.
Across the city, Venezuelans expressed shock and fear as they captured video of billowing smoke and bright orange flashes in the sky. “My love, oh no, look at that,” said one woman in a video, gasping at blasts in the distance.
Confirming the strikes, US President Donald Trump claimed that the Venezuelan President, Nicolas Maduro, and his wife have been “captured and flown out of the country”.
In a Truth Social post shared on Saturday morning, Trump wrote:
“The United States of America has successfully carried out a large scale strike against Venezuela and its leader, President Nicolas Maduro, who has been, along with his wife, captured and flown out of the Country. This operation was done in conjunction with U.S. Law Enforcement. Details to follow. There will be a News Conference today at 11 A.M., at Mar-a-Lago. Thank you for your attention to this matter! President DONALD J. TRUMP.”
Trump has repeatedly promised land operations in the South American oil producer, which Maduro has led since 2013.
The U.S., Venezuela’s opposition and various other nations say Maduro rigged an election last year to stay in power.
Trump has not publicly detailed his aims but privately pressured Maduro to flee the nation.
The Venezuelan government in its statement said the goal of the attack is for the United States to take possession of the country’s oil and minerals.
It added that the United States “will not succeed” in taking the resources.
The U.S. has made a major military buildup in the region, including an aircraft carrier, warships and advanced fighter jets stationed in the Caribbean.
A power outage affected the southern area of the city, near a major military base, witnesses said.
