Early Saturday morning, residents of Caracas experienced a dramatic military incident. At least seven explosions and low-flying aircraft sounds jolted Venezuela’s capital around 2 a.m. local time. The southern section of the city, near a major military base, experienced total power outages. Multiple neighbourhoods erupted into panic as residents rushed into the streets amid chaos.
Reuters witnesses confirmed the explosions and aircraft activity. Bright flashes illuminated the night sky across several areas. Thick columns of smoke rose above southern Caracas. Air-raid sirens sounded throughout various neighbourhoods. Residents reported witnessing helicopter movements overhead. Videos circulating on social media showed visible fire and smoke in multiple locations.
🚨#BREAKING: Reuters reports that U.S. ground forces and United States Air Force assets are currently on the ground and active in and around Caracas, Venezuela. Multiple explosions have been reported and observed across the capital as operations continue. pic.twitter.com/96mTpvxmQX
— R A W S A L E R T S (@rawsalerts) January 3, 2026
Military Locations Targeted in Overnight Operations
Military analysts suggested specific targets during the overnight activity. Fort Tiuna army base experienced a reported bombing. La Carlota Air Base also faced reported strikes. The locations indicated substantial military interest in these strategic installations. Social media posts described the activity as unprecedented in recent Venezuelan history.
The Venezuelan government maintained complete silence immediately following the explosions. No official statement emerged from the Caracas authorities. President Nicolás Maduro neither confirmed nor denied the overnight events. Venezuelan communications minister Freddy Ñáñez did not address the incident immediately. Authorities provided no explanation for the explosions during the initial hours after the incident.
HOLY SH*T 🚨 US Army Apache helicopters seen DESTROYING a Military base in Venezuela
PRAY FOR OUR TROOPS 🙏 pic.twitter.com/yz0fpzMDEG
— MAGA Voice (@MAGAVoice) January 3, 2026
United States Military Presence and Threats Escalate
US President Donald Trump deployed a substantial naval task force to the Caribbean. Trump stated the United States hit and destroyed alleged drug boat docking facilities. The Republican leader claimed this operation targeted Venezuelan drug trafficking operations. Trump had threatened ground strikes for several weeks beforehand. The Monday announcement described striking a marine facility “along the shore.”
Trump declined to specify military or CIA involvement. The location of the alleged strike remained undisclosed. The operation would mark the first known land strike on Venezuelan soil. Earlier maritime operations targeted vessels throughout the Caribbean and eastern Pacific Ocean. US forces conducted multiple strikes since September 2025 against alleged drug-smuggling boats.
La Guaira, Venezuela: Civilians flee in panic following U.S. airstrikes. pic.twitter.com/kRFiU6ilL7
— AsiaWarZone (@AsiaWarZone) January 3, 2026
Contested Claims Regarding Drug Trafficking Operations
The Trump administration accused Maduro of heading a drug cartel. US officials described Venezuela as a “narco-terrorist” regime actively smuggling narcotics. The administration claimed these military operations targeted drug trafficking organisations. Trump stated these strikes destroyed significant quantities of illegal narcotics. Officials said operations targeted the criminal group Tren de Aragua.
Maduro categorically rejected these allegations. Venezuela’s president denied any involvement in drug trafficking operations. Maduro accused Washington of fabricating these claims to justify regime change. Venezuela’s government stated that no criminal drug connections existed. The Trump administration has provided no evidence regarding the targeted boats’ illegal activities.
Maduro’s thugs are out in the streetspic.twitter.com/WGuO1ODI0p
— captive dreamer (@captive_dreamer) January 3, 2026
Broader Context of US-Venezuela Tensions
The Trump administration intensified pressure against Venezuela during recent months. Washington informally closed Venezuelan airspace to commercial operations. Sanctions against Venezuela expanded beyond previous restrictions. The US seized oil tankers carrying Venezuelan crude. These actions aimed to destabilise Maduro’s government, according to Venezuelan officials.
President Trump stated that Venezuela possessed vast oil reserves, motivating US intervention. Maduro claimed Washington sought to gain access to Venezuelan petroleum resources. The leftist leader described regime change as Washington’s true objective. Trump administration officials denied these allegations. State Department representatives argued that actions targeted drug trafficking exclusively.
US-Venezuela Tension
Regional Military Campaign Intensifies
The maritime campaign against alleged drug vessels expanded throughout the Caribbean. Deadly strikes occurred in both the Caribbean Sea and the eastern Pacific Ocean. US forces conducted approximately 30 strikes since September, according to military announcements. These operations killed at least 107 individuals according to official US military statements. Anonymous sources indicated no evidence existed regarding the boats’ drug involvement.
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Military analysts and human rights organisations questioned the legality of these operations. Colombian President Gustavo Petro characterised the boat strikes as extrajudicial killings. International experts argued these actions violated US and international law. The Republican-controlled US Senate twice rejected resolutions limiting Trump’s military authority. Congressional action failed to constrain ongoing Venezuelan operations.
Venezuela Signals Openness to Negotiations
On Friday, Venezuela indicated willingness to negotiate with Washington. President Maduro stated openness to cooperation regarding drug trafficking agreements. This diplomatic gesture emerged after weeks of sustained military pressure. The shift suggested possible negotiations following months of escalating tensions. Maduro simultaneously maintained accusations of US regime-change intentions.
Current Status and Ongoing Developments
The overnight explosions in Caracas remain unexplained by official sources. International observers await clarification regarding the incident’s cause. The exact nature of Saturday’s military activity remains undefined. News agencies described the situation as developing, with updates expected. Residents continued reporting military activity throughout the morning hours.
The incident marks a significant escalation in US-Venezuela tensions. Saturday’s explosions represent the most dramatic military activity in recent Venezuelan history. International attention focused on potential consequences for regional stability. Observers anticipated further developments in the coming days. The situation remains highly fluid with limited official information available
