Venezuela: Screams and rising smoke were captured in videos circulating online after multiple explosions hit Venezuela’s capital, Caracas, in the early hours of Saturday. The incident comes amid escalating tensions between Venezuela and the United States, following recent statements by President Donald Trump warning of possible ground strikes over alleged drug trafficking.
Donald Trump Greenlights Military Action Against Venezuela
According to a CBS News report, President Trump authorized the U.S. military to conduct land strikes in Venezuela days before the explosions occurred. Military planners reportedly discussed executing the mission on Christmas Day; however, US airstrikes in Nigeria targeting ISIS took operational priority, delaying action against Venezuela.
Venezuela Explosions: Back-To-Back Explosions Heard, Low-Flying Aircraft Reported
The Associated Press confirmed that explosions and low-flying aircraft were observed in Caracas early Saturday morning. Social media posts showed unverified videos purportedly capturing the explosions, with rising smoke and frightened residents reacting to the blasts.
Footage claimed to show an attack helicopter, possibly an AH-64 “Apache” with the U.S. Army, striking an unknown location with rockets tonight in Venezuela. pic.twitter.com/R6CJVJfCro
— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) January 3, 2026
President Trump has not explicitly stated whether the military buildup aims to remove Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro from power. On December 22, he told reporters it would be “smart” for Maduro to step down, adding, “It’s up to him what he wants to do.”
In mid-December, President Trump asserted that Venezuela was “completely surrounded by the largest Armada ever assembled in the History of South America.” He further warned in a December 16 post on Truth Social:
“It will only get bigger, and the shock to them will be like nothing they have ever seen before — Until such time as they return to the United States of America all of the Oil, Land, and other Assets that they previously stole from us.”
Explosions, smoke rising after suspected U.S. airstrikes in Venezuela’s capital. No word yet from the U.S. government pic.twitter.com/Q900vyucKN
— BNO News Live (@BNODesk) January 3, 2026
US Strikes Against Venezuela Continue
Since early September, the US military has reportedly conducted more than 30 strikes on suspected drug smuggling vessels in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific, resulting in over 110 fatalities. The first such strike, on September 2, drew controversy when the military reportedly conducted a follow-up attack after spotting two survivors. Congressional critics have called for an investigation into whether this action may constitute a war crime.
The Trump administration alleges that Venezuelan President Maduro is complicit with armed criminal gangs involved in trafficking drugs into the U.S., a claim Maduro has consistently denied.
Zubair Amin is a Senior Journalist at NewsX with over seven years of experience in reporting and editorial work. He has written for leading national and international publications, including Foreign Policy Magazine, Al Jazeera, The Economic Times, The Indian Express, The Wire, Article 14, Mongabay, News9, among others. His primary focus is on international affairs, with a strong interest in US politics and policy. He also writes on West Asia, Indian polity, and constitutional issues. Zubair tweets at zubaiyr.amin
