Residents of the Venezuelan capital were jolted awake early Saturday by a series of powerful explosions and the deafening roar of aircraft, according to reports from AFP and other international news agencies.

 

The blasts, which began around 2:00 AM local time (06:00 GMT), triggered widespread alarm across the city.

 

 

Social media images captured large fires and rising plumes of smoke, primarily in the eastern and southern districts of Caracas.

 

Venezuelan media reported explosions in the city of La Guaira state north of Caracas, along the country’s coast, and in the city of Higuerote.

 

CBS News reported citing sources that officials of the Donald Trump administration are “aware” of reports of explosions and aircraft in Venezuela's capital Caracas.

 

Sounds of Conflict in the Capital

Witnesses described a scene of chaos as at least seven distinct explosions reverberated through the the city. The sounds were accompanied by the low-altitude hum of aircraft, which many identified as fighter jets.

 

Reuters reported that the southern part of the city, near a major military base, suffered localized power outages following the blasts.

 

Trump’s Warnings and Prior Strikes

The incident occurs amid heightened regional friction and repeated threats from US President Donald Trump to take direct action against the Maduro administration.

 

On Monday, Trump announced that the United States had destroyed a maritime pier used by suspected drug-trafficking vessels, the first known American land strike on Venezuelan soil.

 

While President Nicolás Maduro has neither confirmed nor denied the specific details of the US claims, he stated on Thursday that his "national defense system continues to ensure the peace and territorial integrity of the country."

 

A Campaign of Maximum Pressure

The United States has dramatically increased its military presence in the Caribbean, deploying a fleet of warships and jets while tightening oil sanctions.

 

The Trump administration justifies these actions as part of a counter-narcotics operation against what it calls "narco-terrorist" elements within the Venezuelan state.

 

Conversely, Maduro has denounced these moves as "piracy" and an illegal attempt by the US to seize Venezuela’s oil reserves, which are the largest in the world.