Aircraft, explosions shake Venezuelan capital!

Date: January 3, 2026 (12:35 AM MST)

Source: Washington Post

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CARACAS, Venezuela — Explosions were heard and smoke could be seen rising in multiple locations across Caracas in the early morning Saturday, including at key military facilities, as the government accused the United States of an attack. Aircraft were seen flying over the Venezuelan capital.

The government of President Nicolás Maduro accused the United States of carrying out “severe military aggression” in Caracas and in the Venezuelan states of Miranda, Aragua and La Guaira, according to an official government stated posted on social media by the country’s Foreign Ministry. Maduro has declared a state of emergency, according to the statement.

Colombian President Gustavo Petro on Saturday criticized “aggression against Venezuela,” writing on X: “Right now they are bombing Caracas … they have attacked Venezuela,” without providing further details. He called for an immediate meeting of the United Nations Security Council. It is not immediately clear what the cause of the explosions in Caracas was. Petro has been a vocal critic of the Trump administration, particularly over its strikes on alleged drug smuggling boats in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific Ocean.

1 min ago

Cuba and Colombia decry attack against Venezuela

María Luisa Paúl

Regional allies of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro moved quickly to condemn what they described as attacks on Venezuela, amid reports of explosions and unusual aerial activity.

Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel denounced what he called a “criminal U.S. attack on Venezuela,” and demanded an urgent reaction from the international community. In a statement posted online, Díaz-Canel said the region’s “zone of peace” was being “brutally assaulted.”

“State terrorism against the brave Venezuelan people and against our America,” Díaz-Canel wrote on X.

In a lengthy social media post, Colombian President Gustavo Petro said his government viewed with “deep concern” reports of explosions and aerial activity in Venezuela and rejected “any unilateral military action” that could endanger civilians or worsen instability. Colombia, he said, was urging de-escalation and dialogue while taking preventive steps to protect civilians and maintain stability along the Colombian-Venezuelan border.

Both leaders belong to the region’s left-wing bloc, which has largely closed ranks around Caracas amid mounting international pressure and past U.S. sanctions. Cuba is one of Maduro’s closest diplomatic partners, while Petro has restored full relations with Venezuela after years of hostility under Colombia’s previous conservative government.

Petro said Colombia would keep diplomatic channels open and push for independent verification of events through regional and multilateral forums.