The United States, which has pressured the Nicolás Maduro government of Venezuela, carried out airstrikes on Venezuela on the 3rd (local time).
U.S. President Donald Trump said in a post on the social media platform Truth Social that day, "The United States successfully carried out a large-scale attack against Venezuela and its leader, President Nicolás Maduro."
As it is being interpreted as effectively ousting the anti-U.S., left-leaning Maduro government by force, significant fallout is expected across the broader political landscape in Latin America, along with controversy over violations of international law. The Venezuelan government labeled the U.S. attack as a "national invasion" and declared a national state of emergency.
According to AP, AFP, and Reuters, explosions occurred in succession across the Venezuelan capital of Caracas at about 2 a.m., and aircraft noise and black smoke were observed for about an hour and 30 minutes afterward. In various parts of the city, multiple explosions were heard along with the sound of low-flying aircraft, and startled residents poured into the streets. Foreign media reported in initial coverage that at least seven explosions were confirmed and that at least nine helicopters were seen flying over the skies of Caracas.
Military bases in Caracas also came under attack. Plumes of smoke were seen rising from a hangar at one base, and widespread power outages were reported at military facilities and in nearby areas. Bloomberg, citing witnesses, reported that an explosion also occurred at the Revolutionary Museum, where the remains of former leftist leader and former President Hugo Chávez, Maduro's predecessor, are enshrined.
The Venezuelan government said attacks also took place in Miranda, Aragua, and La Guaira states near Caracas. In particular, a fire reportedly broke out at the port in La Guaira state, the maritime gateway connected to the capital, after the U.S. airstrikes.
Fox News, citing video from the blast sites, reported that Venezuela appeared not to have detected the initial airstrikes in advance, and that its air defenses did not function properly, resulting in no counterattack.
The New York Times (NYT) reported that in a phone call with the paper, President Trump celebrated the success of the operation, saying that "many good plans and many excellent units, great people" played a role, and that "it was a really excellent operation."
At 11 a.m. Eastern time (1 a.m. on the 4th in Korea), President Trump is scheduled to hold a press conference at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida regarding the airstrikes in Venezuela. Prior to this, U.S. media reported that Trump had ordered the strikes on Venezuela and that military operations were underway on the ground there.
Just before the attack, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued an order prohibiting U.S. civilian airlines from flying over Venezuelan airspace, AP reported.
The Venezuelan government, in a statement, strongly condemned the United States for attacking civilian and military facilities and declared a national state of emergency. It also said it had issued a general mobilization order to the entire military and militias. Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez said in a state TV (VTV) interview that they did not know the exact whereabouts of President Maduro and First Lady Cilia Flores, and demanded that the U.S. government immediately disclose whether the presidential couple are alive.
Gustavo Petro, president of neighboring Colombia, called for an emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council to discuss the situation.
President Trump has labeled President Maduro the "head of a drug-trafficking organization" and pressed for his ouster, repeatedly raising the possibility of ground operations in Venezuela to that end. As recently as this year, he repeatedly said that the United States could launch land operations in Venezuela under the pretext of eradicating drug trafficking. In tandem, the Trump administration has sunk vessels suspected of transporting drugs in waters near Venezuela and seized oil tankers accused of violating international law.