The United States reportedly carried out military operations against Venezuela overnight on January 3, according to media sources and statements from the Venezuelan government.
The explosions came after a significant U.S. military buildup in the Caribbean and repeated threats from President Donald Trump toward Venezuela and President Nicolás Maduro.
In response, Venezuela declared a state of emergency, condemning what it called “extremely serious military aggression perpetrated by the current Government of the United States of America against Venezuelan territory and population.”
Around 2:00 a.m., loud blasts and sounds resembling aircraft were reported in Caracas. Online footage showed fires at Fuerte Tiuna, the country’s largest military complex, and burning vehicles at La Carlota air base.
U.S. officials have not provided immediate public comments. Inquiries directed to the Pentagon and U.S. Southern Command were referred to the White House, which had not issued a statement at press time. The full scope and objectives of the operation remain unclear.
Several U.S. media outlets reported the explosions as part of a Trump administration military strike on Venezuela. Venezuela’s opposition, led by 2025 Nobel Peace Prize laureate MarÃa Corina Machado, declined to comment officially.
The U.S. State Department acknowledged “reports of explosions in and around Caracas” on the embassy website and urged American citizens in Venezuela to shelter in place and depart safely. The advisory reminded U.S. citizens that the Caracas embassy has been closed since 2019, with consular matters handled via Colombia.
The strikes come amid an expanding U.S. military campaign in the region. Since September, U.S. forces have targeted alleged drug-trafficking vessels in the Caribbean and Pacific, escalating in late December with the seizure of oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuelan ports.
A major American naval presence has been assembled in the southern Caribbean, including guided missile destroyers, a missile cruiser, and a Marine Corps amphibious ready group on Navy landing ships. The USS Gerald R. Ford, the world’s largest aircraft carrier, was also deployed to the area in recent months.
Days before the operation, President Trump confirmed that the CIA had carried out a land strike against a dock facility in Venezuela. U.S. officials claim the strikes have targeted at least 35 vessels in international waters, causing at least 115 deaths, many Venezuelans, as part of efforts to combat drug trafficking, particularly fentanyl.
The actions have drawn criticism in Washington, with lawmakers from both parties questioning the legality and the lack of intelligence briefings to Congress. Legal analysts and former military officials have suggested the operations may violate international law.
Senator Brian Schatz of Hawaii said, “We have no vital national interests in Venezuela to justify war,” criticizing the administration for not providing explanations to the public.
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