The US has launched an attack on the Venezuelan capital, Caracas, according to international media reports. The capital was shaken by the sound of bombers taking off and a series of explosions since late Friday night local time. In this situation, a state of emergency has been declared throughout the country.
Al Jazeera reported that multiple explosions occurred in the Fortuna area, the main Venezuelan military base south of Caracas. Several structures at the military base caught fire and black smoke was seen rising from there. Fortuna and the surrounding area have been without electricity since the explosions.
The Pentagon declined to comment when contacted immediately after the incident. However, US President Donald Trump had previously advocated military action in Venezuela and called on President Nicolas Maduro to step down.
Analysts say the attack comes amid long-standing US-Venezuela tensions. The Trump administration has imposed tough economic and energy sanctions on Venezuela since taking office in a second term. As part of this, the US seized several Venezuelan oil tankers in December.
Meanwhile, there is much speculation in Venezuela about the real cause of the explosion. Some believe it to be a direct military attack by the United States, while others do not rule out the possibility of an internal military uprising. However, international media outlets have reported that the situation is still uncertain and very tense.