Explosions Rock Caracas as Maduro Accuses U.S. of Military Attack

Caracas, Jan. 3, 2026 — Explosions were heard across Venezuela’s capital early Saturday, with smoke rising from multiple locations, including key military installations, as President Nicolás Maduro’s government accused the United States of launching a military attack.
According to an official statement released by Venezuela’s Foreign Ministry, the country was subjected to what it described as “severe military aggression” targeting Caracas and the neighboring states of Miranda, Aragua, and La Guaira. The statement said aircraft were detected flying at low altitude over the capital during the explosions.
One of the affected locations was the Generalissimo Francisco de Miranda Air Base, also known as La Carlota, a major military facility in Caracas. Images and videos shared on social media showed plumes of smoke rising from the area, though independent verification of the damage was not immediately available.
President Maduro has declared a nationwide state of emergency in response to the incident, the Foreign Ministry said, without providing further details on casualties or the extent of destruction.
U.S. officials had not immediately commented on the accusations at the time of publication.
The explosions mark a sharp escalation in already strained relations between Washington and Caracas, which have remained tense for years over sanctions, disputed elections, and allegations of human rights abuses. Regional governments and international observers are closely monitoring the situation amid fears of wider instability in Latin America.