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The United States has launched targeted military strikes against Venezuelan defense installations, according to U.S. officials who confirmed the operation to CBS News. The pre-dawn attacks on Saturday morning sent plumes of smoke rising over Caracas and prompted the Venezuelan government to declare a national emergency.

Multiple explosions rocked the Venezuelan capital, with reports indicating strikes hit strategic military locations including La Carlota airfield and the primary Fuerte Tiuna military base. Social media circulated unverified footage showing explosions and military helicopters operating overhead, while several surrounding communities experienced power outages.

The Venezuelan government issued an official statement vehemently condemning what it described as “extremely serious military aggression” by the United States, calling on the international community to denounce the actions. The White House and Pentagon have maintained official silence regarding the operations.

This escalation occurs amid already heightened tensions between Washington and Caracas. President Trump had previously deployed naval forces to the Caribbean and repeatedly suggested potential military intervention in Venezuela. Recent weeks have seen U.S. forces targeting vessels suspected of drug trafficking in the region, including a strike earlier this week on a dock facility allegedly connected to Venezuelan drug operations.

The political context underscores the confrontation: The U.S. administration considers President Nicolás Maduro’s government illegitimate and has accused him of direct involvement in narcotics trafficking. Meanwhile, Maduro maintains that Washington’s true objective is regime change aimed at controlling Venezuela’s substantial oil reserves, citing recent U.S. seizures of Venezuelan oil tankers as evidence of this motivation.

The international community now faces a rapidly developing crisis that marks a significant escalation in the long-standing tensions between the two nations.

CARACAS, Venezuela — The pre-dawn hours of Saturday were shattered by a series of at least seven powerful explosions and the ominous sound of low-flying aircraft over Venezuela’s capital, sending panicked residents into the streets despite the early morning darkness. The mysterious incidents occurred approximately at 2:00 a.m. local time, with the origin and nature of the detonations remaining officially unconfirmed as multiple governments maintained silence.

The unsettling events unfolded against a backdrop of dramatically escalating tensions between Venezuela and the United States, which has been conducting an extensive military campaign targeting alleged drug-smuggling operations in the region. According to the Trump administration, American forces have executed 35 separate boat strikes since early September, resulting in at least 115 casualties.

Eyewitness accounts described a scene of chaos and terror. ‘The entire ground shook violently. This is absolutely horrifying. We heard consecutive explosions and aircraft in the distance,’ recounted Carmen Hidalgo, a 21-year-old office worker whose voice trembled as she spoke. She was returning from a birthday party with two relatives when the explosions occurred.

Remarkably, Venezuelan state television continued regular programming without interruption, airing cultural content about national music and art rather than addressing the explosions. This broadcasting decision raised questions about the government’s response to the incidents.

The geopolitical context adds layers of complexity to the situation. Just one day prior to the explosions, the Venezuelan government had expressed openness to negotiating an anti-drug trafficking agreement with the United States. However, President Nicolás Maduro simultaneously accused the U.S. of attempting to force regime change in Venezuela to gain access to the country’s substantial oil reserves through a prolonged pressure campaign that began with a massive military deployment to the Caribbean Sea in August.

The relationship between the nations has further deteriorated following a recent CIA drone strike on Venezuelan soil targeting areas believed to be used by drug cartels—the first known direct U.S. operation on Venezuelan territory. Maduro himself faces narco-terrorism charges in the United States.

Adding to the economic pressure, the U.S. has implemented sanctions against four Venezuelan oil companies and seized multiple sanctioned oil tankers near Venezuela’s coast, alongside establishing a naval blockade that effectively constricts the country’s economy.

The American military presence in the region represents the largest in generations, highlighted by the November deployment of the nation’s most advanced aircraft carrier with thousands of additional troops. President Trump has characterized the boat strikes as a necessary escalation in what he describes as an ‘armed conflict’ with drug cartels responsible for funneling narcotics into the United States.

International attention came from an unexpected source as Iranian state television reported on the Caracas explosions, showcasing images of the Venezuelan capital. The coverage underscored the strategic alliance between Iran and Venezuela, bonded significantly by their shared adversarial relationship with the United States.

A significant seismic event measuring 6.5 on the Richter scale struck southern and central Mexico on Friday, resulting in multiple casualties and widespread structural damage. The earthquake’s epicenter was located near the coastal tourist destination of Acapulco, specifically close to San Marcos in Guerrero state, triggering immediate emergency responses across affected regions.

Official reports confirm at least two fatalities from the tremors. Guerrero State Governor Evelyn Salgado identified one victim as a 50-year-old woman, while Mexico City Mayor Clara Brugada confirmed the death of a 60-year-old man. Additionally, medical authorities reported approximately 12 individuals sustained injuries during the event. Mayor Brugada noted that aftershocks continued to reverberate through the region hours after the initial quake.

The seismic activity prompted immediate evacuations throughout Mexico City and Acapulco as the Mexican Seismic Alert System activated. This sophisticated warning mechanism, implemented after the catastrophic 1985 earthquake that claimed over 10,000 lives, provided critical seconds for residents and tourists to seek safety.

Structural engineers initiated emergency assessments of potentially compromised buildings, with two structures evaluated for collapse risk and 34 buildings plus five homes undergoing comprehensive inspections as precautionary measures.

The earthquake occurred during President Claudia Sheinbaum’s inaugural press conference of the year, with video footage capturing the moment she interrupted proceedings to ensure orderly evacuation. The president’s calm response exemplified official preparedness protocols, including reminders about maintaining ‘Life Backpacks’—emergency kits containing essential survival items such as flashlights, radios, water, non-perishable food, warm clothing, and document copies.

Mexico’s position within one of the world’s most seismically active regions was underscored by this event, coming seven years after the devastating 2017 earthquake that killed over 200 people and destroyed numerous structures in Mexico City.