Venezuela’s government accuses US of attacking civilian, military installations in multiple states
CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — At least seven explosions and low-flying planes were heard in the capital Caracas around 2 a.m. local time on Saturday morning. The Venezuelan government accused the United States of attacking civilian and military facilities in several states.
The Pentagon referred requests for comment to the White House, but the White House did not immediately return an email seeking comment. Meanwhile, the Federal Aviation Administration banned U.S. commercial flights in Venezuelan airspace due to “ongoing military activities” before the explosions in Caracas.
Calls to the US Southern Command, which oversees military operations in the region, went unanswered.
The FAA’s warning, known as the “Notice to Airmen,” arrived on the U.S. east coast shortly after 1 a.m. It warned all commercial and private U.S. pilots that airspace over Venezuela and Curacao, the small island nation off the coast just north of the country, is off-limits “due to flight safety risks associated with ongoing military activities.”
Warnings are designed to warn pilots of various hazards.
Smoke was seen rising from the hangar of the military base in Caracas. Another military facility in the capital was also left without electricity.
Citizens flocked to the streets in various neighborhoods. Some of them were visible in the distance from various parts of Caracas.
“The whole ground shook. It’s scary. We heard explosions and planes,” said 21-year-old office worker Carmen Hidalgo, her voice trembling. He was walking briskly with two of his relatives on their way back from a birthday party. “We felt the air hit us.”
In its statement, the Venezuelan government called on its supporters to take to the streets.
“People to the streets!” The statement said: “The Bolivarian Government calls on all social and political forces in the country to activate mobilization plans and reject this imperialist attack.”
The statement added that President Nicolás Maduro “ordered the implementation of all national defense plans” and declared a “state of external turmoil.” This state of emergency gives him the power to suspend people’s rights and expand the role of the armed forces.
This comes as the US military has been targeting boats allegedly involved in drug smuggling in recent days. On Friday, Venezuela said it was open to negotiating a deal with the United States. fight against drug trafficking.
Maduro also said: in a pre-recorded interview The United States wants to force a change of government in Venezuela and gain access to its vast oil reserves through a months-long pressure campaign that began in 2015, a report published Thursday said. A major military deployment to the Caribbean Sea in August.
Maduro was accused of narco-terrorism in the USA. The CIA was behind it a drone attack last week A docking area believed to be used by Venezuelan drug cartels in what was the first known direct operation on Venezuelan soil since the United States began attacking boats in September.
US President Donald Trump has been threatening for months that he could soon order attacks on targets on Venezuelan territory. There is also the USA Sanctioned oil tankers were seized Off the coast of Venezuela and Trump ordered a blockade others had a move that appeared designed to take a tighter grip on the South American country’s economy.
The US military has been attacking boats in the Caribbean Sea and Eastern Pacific Ocean since early September. According to figures released by the Trump administration, the number of known boat attacks as of Friday is 35, and the number of deaths is at least 115.
They followed a major Build-up of American forces in waters off South America, including arrival in November the country’s most advanced aircraft carrierThis added thousands more soldiers to the largest military presence in the region in generations.
Trump has justified boat attacks He stated that escalation was necessary to stop the flow of drugs into the United States and suggested that the United States was engaged in a terrorist attack. “Gunfight” with drug cartels.
Meanwhile, Iranian state television reported the explosions in Caracas on Saturday by broadcasting images of the Venezuelan capital. Iran has been close to Venezuela for years, in part due to their shared hostility towards the United States.
