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Trump orders US military strikes on Venezuela
Explosions rocked Caracas, Venezuela's capital, in the early hours of Saturday as President Trump directed airstrikes on key Venezuelan military sites. This bold move signals a sharp escalation in Washington's long-standing pressure campaign against Nicolás Maduro's regime.
Witnesses reported at least seven blasts around 2 a.m. local time, accompanied by low-flying aircraft and power outages across multiple neighborhoods. The attacks targeted critical facilities, including Fuerte Tiuna the country's largest military complex and La Carlota airbase in eastern Caracas. Reports also pointed to strikes on El Libertador airbase in Maracay, a vital hub for Venezuela's air force.
These operations follow months of heightened US military presence in the Caribbean, where roughly 15,000 troops and 11 warships, including the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford, have been positioned. Since September, Trump's administration has conducted over 30 strikes on suspected drug-trafficking vessels in international waters, resulting in more than 110 deaths and the seizure of several oil tankers. Saturday's land-based actions mark a departure from prior sea-focused efforts; Trump had revealed earlier this week that the US struck a Venezuelan port facility allegedly linked to drug smuggling, reportedly via CIA drone.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro took to social media, warning of missile strikes on Caracas and urging an emergency United Nations meeting, without naming the perpetrator. Venezuela's government has yet to issue an official response, though Maduro expressed openness on Thursday to talks with Washington on drug trafficking and related issues.
The Trump administration defends its actions by accusing Maduro of overseeing narco-terrorist networks, formally designating his government and affiliates as foreign terrorist organizations. Maduro rejects these claims, insisting they mask a US bid for Venezuela's massive oil reserves. Human rights groups and congressional critics have challenged the legal grounds for the operations, with Human Rights Watch labeling prior maritime strikes as unlawful extrajudicial killings. The US has issued notices barring American aircraft from Venezuelan airspace, effectively designating it a military operations zone. Trump has sidestepped questions on whether regime change is the goal, but last month suggested Maduro would be wise to step down.