In the early hours of Saturday, January 3, 2026, Caracas woke to a series of thunderous explosions as the United States launched strikes across Venezuela, targeting civilian and military sites in Greater Caracas, Miranda, Aragua and La Guaira 💥
The Venezuelan government condemned the action as a blatant violation of the UN Charter, accusing Washington of seeking to seize the country’s oil and mineral wealth. President Nicolas Maduro declared a state of external disturbance and activated national defense plans 🇻🇪
Residents reported low-flying aircraft and saw clouds of smoke after the blasts at around 2 a.m. (0600 GMT). Some neighborhoods, including a military base in Caracas, experienced brief power blackouts 🌃
Shortly after, U.S. President Donald Trump took to Truth Social to claim that Venezuelan leader Maduro and his wife had been captured and flown out of the country. He confirmed a large-scale strike against Venezuela and said he would hold a news conference at Mar-a-Lago at 11 A.M. 📢
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration then barred American aircraft from Venezuelan airspace, citing safety risks amid ongoing military operations
Over the past months, the U.S. has bolstered its military presence in the Caribbean by deploying the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford and around 15,000 troops off Venezuela’s coast to combat drug trafficking. Caracas views this as a thinly veiled effort to topple its government ⚓🚢
The strikes drew swift condemnation from several countries and international bodies, with calls for de-escalation and respect for Venezuela’s sovereignty 🌎✊
Why it matters: Venezuela sits on some of the world’s largest oil reserves, and any disruption can ripple through global energy markets. This event underscores how resource control and geopolitics remain deeply intertwined 🛢️🌍
What’s next: Tensions are sky-high as Caracas and Washington square off. Stay tuned for international reactions, potential UN motions, and the situation on the ground as this story develops 📰👀
Reference(s):
U.S. launches strikes on Venezuela, several countries condemn attack
cgtn.com
