The Venezuelan government declared a national state of emergency on the 3rd (local time), labeling a series of explosions that occurred before dawn in the capital Caracas and elsewhere as a U.S. military invasion.
According to Reuters and other foreign media, the Venezuelan government said in a statement that attacks occurred in the capital Caracas as well as Miranda, Aragua, and La Guaira states, calling it a "very serious military invasion."
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, who declared a national state of emergency immediately after the situation broke out, called it a violation of sovereignty and ordered all forces mobilized against the U.S. attack.
The Venezuelan government claimed the purpose of the U.S. attack was to seize the country's oil and mineral resources. It urged social and political forces to rally and act to defend the nation. It also said it would file complaints with the U.N. Security Council, the U.N. secretary-general, and other international organizations, calling for condemnation of the United States.
According to social media videos, explosions were heard across Caracas and aircraft and black smoke were seen from around 2 a.m. Power outages also occurred in southern downtown areas near major military bases.
The Associated Press reported that before the explosions in Venezuela, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) ordered U.S. civilian airliners not to fly over Venezuelan airspace.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro wrote on X (formerly Twitter), aiming at the United States, "Right now they are bombing Caracas," adding, "I warn the entire world. Venezuela is under attack."
However, the New York Times (NYT) explained that no evidence has yet emerged acknowledging or proving that the explosions were caused by military action.
Earlier, the Trump administration mentioned the possibility of ground operations against Venezuela to pressure President Maduro to step down. Recently, U.S. media also reported that the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) struck a remote port pier on the Venezuelan coast.
In addition, the Trump administration has sunk vessels suspected of being drug-running boats near Venezuela and seized oil tankers that violated international law.