Explosions Rock Caracas Venezuela Tonight as Government Blames US Military Action

Tonight in Caracas, Venezuela's capital, residents reported a series of loud explosions and sightings of low-flying aircraft around 2 a.m. local time, triggering power outages and smoke rising over key military installations such as La Carlota Air Base and the Fuerte Tiuna military complex. Venezuelan officials immediately condemned the violence as military aggression by the United States, though independent confirmation of who conducted the strikes remains scarce.

According to reports from CBS News, officials in the White House were aware of initial reports of explosions and aircraft activity over the Venezuelan capital early Saturday, but there has been no formal confirmation or detailed comment from either the White House or the Pentagon as of this writing. Sources told CBS that U.S. administration personnel were tracking the situation, but the U.S. government declined immediate public comment.

In an official statement, President Nicolás Maduro's government denounced what it described as "military aggression" by the United States following the explosions that rocked not only Caracas but also the neighboring states of Miranda, La Guaira, and Aragua. The Venezuelan government declared a national emergency and mobilized defense forces while calling on citizens and political factions to resist what it labeled an imperial assault.

Colombia's President, Gustavo Petro, took to social media shortly after the blasts, writing that Caracas was being "bombed with missiles" and urging an immediate session of the United Nations Security Council to assess the legality and consequences of the attack.

Eyewitnesses reported that several distinct explosions were heard across different Caracas neighborhoods, leading many residents to rush into the streets in fear. Some described the shock waves as powerful enough to shake nearby buildings. Smoke was visible over parts of the city shortly after the incidents began.

International media coverage confirms that at least seven explosions and low-flying aircraft were reported across the Venezuelan capital, with the southern areas of Caracas losing electricity amid the chaos. These developments appear to escalate tensions that have been building between the United States and Venezuela for months.

This surge in hostilities comes against a backdrop of intensified U.S. military activity in the region. Throughout late 2025, the United States had undertaken multiple operations against Venezuelan vessels and suspected drug-trafficking infrastructure. In late December, President Donald Trump acknowledged a U.S. strike on a dock facility in Venezuela allegedly used for loading drug-smuggling vessels, part of what Washington has described as efforts to curb narco-trafficking. Neither the Pentagon nor the White House has made clear how or if those operations relate to the explosions tonight.

In the past months, U.S. strikes against alleged drug smuggling boats in the Caribbean and Pacific have drawn scrutiny and legal debate, with critics questioning their legitimacy under international law. The Trump administration maintains these actions are part of an "armed conflict" with drug cartels, a justification that has faced pushback both domestically and abroad.

As this situation develops, there is growing concern among world leaders about the potential for broader conflict in the Western Hemisphere. Regional governments and international organizations may call for urgent diplomatic meetings to address the reported bombing and its implications for regional security. For now, Caracas remains on high alert and Venezuelan authorities continue to assert that this attack represents a significant escalation in foreign intervention against their sovereign territory.

This is a developing story