The US has carried out strikes inside Venezuela, with explosions reported in Caracas, following months of threats from President Trump.
WASHINGTON: The United States has carried out military strikes inside Venezuela, a US official confirmed.
Explosions rocked the capital Caracas and other states following months of threats by President Donald Trump against Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro.
The Venezuelan government said attacks also occurred in the states of Miranda, Aragua and La Guaira.
President Maduro declared a national emergency and mobilised defence forces in response.
Blasts, aircraft and black smoke were visible across Caracas for roughly 90 minutes from around 2 a.m. local time.
Across the city, Venezuelans expressed shock and fear, capturing video of billowing smoke and bright orange flashes.
“My love, oh no, look at that,” said one woman in a video, gasping at blasts in the distance.
A power outage affected the southern area of the city near a major military base, witnesses said.
Trump has repeatedly promised land operations in the South American oil producer.
The US, Venezuela’s opposition and other nations say Maduro rigged an election last year to stay in power.
Trump has privately pressured Maduro to flee the nation and said on Monday it would be “smart” for him to leave.
The Venezuelan government stated the attack’s goal is for the US to take possession of the country’s oil and minerals.
It added that the United States “will not succeed” in taking the resources.
The US has made a major military buildup in the region, including an aircraft carrier and warships.
Trump has sought a “blockade” of Venezuelan oil and expanded sanctions against the Maduro government.
His administration has staged more than two dozen strikes on vessels allegedly involved in drug trafficking.
Last week, Trump said the US had hit an area in Venezuela where boats are loaded with drugs.
He did not say whether those strikes were carried out by the CIA or not.
Trump has accused Venezuela of flooding the US with drugs, a claim Maduro’s government denies.
