Venezuela's government on Saturday rejected what it described as "military aggression by the United States" and announced a national emergency after multiple explosions rocked the capital, Caracas, in the early hours of the day.
In an official statement, President Nicolás Maduro ordered all national defence plans to be implemented "at the appropriate time and circumstances," in strict adherence to the Constitution of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, the Organic Law on States of Exception, and the Organic Law on National Security.
Maduro signed a decree declaring a State of External Commotion across the entire national territory, citing the need to protect the rights of the population, ensure the full functioning of republican institutions, and immediately respond to what the government called an "imperialist aggression." The statement said the entire country must activate to defeat the attack.
The government also ordered the immediate deployment of the Command for the Comprehensive Defence of the Nation and the Direction Organs for Comprehensive Defence in all states and municipalities.
According to authorities, explosions were reported not only in Caracas but also in the neighbouring states of Miranda, Aragua and La Guaira, with thick black smoke and aircraft visible over parts of the capital. Several loud blasts were heard before dawn, triggering widespread alarm.
While Washington has issued no official confirmation, a CBS News reporter cited US officials as saying that former President Donald Trump had ordered strikes on locations inside Venezuela, including military sites. The Pentagon and the White House had not responded to requests for comment at the time of reporting.
Venezuela's government claimed the objective of the alleged US attack was to seize control of the country's oil and mineral resources. Calling for mass mobilisation, the statement urged citizens to take to the streets and asked social and political forces to activate resistance plans and repudiate the attack.
In strict reference to Article 51 of the United Nations Charter, the government said Venezuela reserves the right to exercise legitimate self-defence to protect its people, territory and independence. It also appealed to the peoples and governments of Latin America, the Caribbean and the wider world to mobilise in active solidarity.
Former president Hugo Chávez was quoted in the statement as saying that "in the face of any circumstance of new difficulties, no matter how great, the response of all and all patriots is unity, struggle, battle, and victory."
Trump has previously spoken about the possibility of land operations in Venezuela, while the United States has significantly increased its military presence in the region, deploying an aircraft carrier, warships and advanced fighter jets to the Caribbean.
The US has accused Venezuela of allowing large quantities of drugs to flow into American territory and has carried out air strikes in recent months on vessels it claims were involved in drug trafficking. Maduro has strongly denied any links to criminal activity, insisting that Washington is attempting to remove him from power to gain access to Venezuela's vast oil reserves and rare earth mineral resources.
(With inputs from IANS)
