Multiple explosions reverberated through Caracas and surrounding regions in the early hours of January 3, 2026, starting around 2:00 a.m. local time. Witnesses reported at least seven blasts, accompanied by the roar of low-flying aircraft and columns of smoke rising from key sites, including the La Carlota military airfield and Fuerte Tiuna, Venezuela's largest military complex. Power outages plunged southern areas of the city into darkness, near major military installations, while residents in various neighborhoods fled to the streets amid the chaos.

The Venezuelan government issued a strong condemnation, labeling the incidents as a grave act of military aggression by the United States targeting both civilian and military locations. The attacks extended beyond the capital to the states of Miranda, Aragua, and La Guaira, prompting President Nicolás Maduro to declare a national state of emergency. The administration called for nationwide mobilization, urging all social and political forces to activate defense plans and repel what it described as an imperialist assault aimed at seizing control of the country's strategic resources.

Unnamed U.S. officials confirmed to multiple media outlets, including CBS News and Reuters, that American forces executed the strikes on targets inside Venezuela, including military facilities. This operation marks a significant escalation from previous actions, which had been limited to destroying dozens of suspected drug-smuggling vessels in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean since September 2025. The White House and Pentagon have yet to issue an official statement, but the strikes align with ongoing U.S. efforts under President Donald Trump to disrupt alleged narcotics networks.

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President Trump has repeatedly accused Nicolás Maduro of leading a drug cartel operation, designating groups like the Cartel de los Soles as terrorist organizations and justifying maritime strikes as part of an armed conflict against narcoterrorism. These actions have resulted in over 100 reported deaths and drawn criticism for lacking public evidence of drug involvement in targeted vessels. Trump had previously threatened land-based operations, signaling intent to expand the campaign beyond international waters.

Maduro firmly rejected the narcotics allegations, framing the U.S. actions as a pretext to overthrow his government and exploit Venezuela's vast oil reserves, the largest proven in the world. He vowed national resistance, called for an emergency United Nations Security Council meeting, and asserted that the aggression risked destabilizing Latin America. Regional leaders, including Colombia's President Gustavo Petro, condemned the strikes and demanded international scrutiny into their legality.

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