Venezuelan Forces Opened Fire Near Presidential Palace After Spotting Unidentified Drones

Venezuelan forces opened fire near the presidential palace, Miraflores, after spotting unidentified drones just days after authoritarian President Nicolas Maduro was captured.

Infobae reported that heavy gunfire was deployed against the presumed threat, and the main ministries in Caracas were evacuated. Videos posted on social media showed armed soldiers patrolling the streets near Miraflores.

Moreover, AFP cited Venezuelan officials who later said the situation was under control and was all miscommunication within the armed forces.

The incident illustrated the tension within the regime just days after Maduro was captured by U.S. forces. According to Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the operation lasted nearly two and a half hours and involved about 150 aircraft.

He said the aircraft were used to dismantle Venezuelan air defenses, allowing military helicopters to transport troops into Caracas.

As reported by The New York Post, the military base that suffered the most damage was Fuerte Tiuna, Venezuela's largest and most significant complex in Caracas. Satellite images taken before and after the strike show multiple structures reduced to rubble, with blast damage cutting across large sections of the base.

Witnesses also reported strikes at La Carlota, a military airfield where defensive positions and runways were disabled.

Damage extended beyond the capital's bases. At La Guaira, a strategic port that handles military and commercial logistics, containers and dock infrastructure were hit, according to local accounts.

Residents near the targeted areas told local outlets the military operation sparked secondary explosions and fires.

Across Caracas, residents described hours of loud detonations and aircraft flying overhead. Power outages were reported in several neighborhoods as crowds moved into the streets, documenting the unfolding events with photos and videos shared online.

Moreover, the Cuban regime announced that 32 of its citizens were killed during the operation. "Faithful to their responsibilities for security and defense, our compatriots honorably and heroically fulfilled their duty and fell after fierce resistance in direct combat against the attackers or as a result of bombardments of the facilities," Havana said in a statement.

Cuba described the U.S. strikes as a criminal act of aggression and state terrorism and said the government would honor those who were killed. Havana, a close ally of the Maduro regime, has long provided Caracas with support in the form of armed troops and intelligence.