Donald Trump stated early Saturday morning that his administration had carried out “large-scale attacks against Venezuela” and “captured its leader, President Nicolás Maduro,” along with his wife, Cilia Flores.
- So far, there have been no reports of injuries or deaths from the explosions.
- The statement details that the attacks affected “civilian and military areas in the city of Caracas, the capital of the Republic, and the states of Miranda, Aragua, and La Guaira.”
- Early reports on Saturday
- An orange glow could be seen at the base of one of the columns. Then, a brief flash was seen in another location, followed by a loud boom.”
“The United States of America has successfully carried out a large-scale attack against Venezuela and its leader, President Nicolás Maduro, who, along with his wife, has been captured and removed from the country. This operation was conducted in collaboration with U.S. law enforcement. More details shortly. A press conference will be held today at 11:00 a.m. at Mar-a-Lago (Florida). Thank you for your attention to this matter! President DONALD J. TRUMP,” the president wrote in a post on his Truth Social account at 4:21 a.m. Saturday, Eastern Time.
So far, there have been no reports of injuries or deaths from the explosions.
“A U.S. official stated there were no American casualties in the operation but declined to comment on Venezuelan casualties,” reported The New York Times. “Venezuela’s Vice President Delcy Rodríguez, in statements to a state television network, said Nicolás Maduro and his wife’s whereabouts are unknown and asked President Trump for proof of life.”
Earlier, CBS White House correspondent Jennifer Jacobs had reported: “President Trump ordered strikes against targets inside Venezuela, including military installations, according to U.S. officials, as the administration escalated its campaign against President Nicolás Maduro’s regime early Saturday.”
“Trump administration officials are aware of reports about explosions and aircraft overflights over Caracas, Venezuela’s capital, early this morning,” Jacobs added on Twitter/X, before there were any official comments from the U.S. government.
Meanwhile, the Venezuelan government issued an official statement early Saturday rejecting “the serious military aggression perpetrated by the current government of the United States of America against Venezuelan territory and population,” reported Telesur.
The statement details that the attacks affected “civilian and military areas in the city of Caracas, the capital of the Republic, and the states of Miranda, Aragua, and La Guaira.”
According to the statement, “The purpose of this attack is none other than to seize Venezuela’s strategic resources, particularly its oil and minerals, attempting to forcibly break the political independence of the Nation. They will not succeed.”
The statement continued, saying that Maduro had activated “all national defense plans” and ordered “the implementation of the decree declaring a state of External Commotion throughout the national territory to protect the rights of the population, the full functioning of republican institutions, and to immediately shift to armed struggle.” The immediate deployment of the Command for the Comprehensive Defense of the Nation has been ordered. Additionally, citing Article 51 of the United Nations Charter, Venezuela “reserves the right to exercise legitimate defense to protect its people, its territory, and its independence.”
The statement also noted that “this act constitutes a flagrant violation of the United Nations Charter, particularly its Articles 1 and 2, which enshrine respect for sovereignty, the legal equality of states, and the prohibition of the use of force.”
Early reports on Saturday
A CNN team witnessed several explosions early Saturday morning in Caracas, Venezuela’s capital, and reported that some areas of the city were left without electricity.
Around 2 a.m. local time on Saturday, at least seven explosions were heard, along with low-flying aircraft over the Venezuelan capital, reported Regina García Cano, a correspondent for Associated Press.
Several areas of the city were left without power, and CNN journalists in the Venezuelan capital could hear the sound of aircraft after the explosions. “A video obtained and verified by CNN showed two columns of smoke rising into the night sky amid the city lights.
An orange glow could be seen at the base of one of the columns. Then, a brief flash was seen in another location, followed by a loud boom.”
Local media reported that explosions were also heard in La Guaira, north of Caracas and home to the country’s main airport; and in Higuerote, a coastal city in the nearby state of Miranda.
“Residents of Caracas woke up early Saturday morning to rounds of explosions over the Venezuelan capital. They also reported aircraft overflights and other aircraft, as well as power outages in different parts of the city,” reported Luz Mely Reyes. “Videos and photos began circulating on social media showing helicopters, columns of smoke, and fire. More than an hour after the possible bombings, there was still no official information from Nicolás Maduro’s government.”
