(VOVWORLD) -Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has announced a state of emergency in the country following aerial strikes in the capital Caracas early Saturday morning, according to a government statement.
At least seven large explosions occurred in Caracas, Miranda, and the states of Aragua and La Guaira in Venezuela. Witnesses said the loud explosions were seen with smoke and fire in the area surrounding Fort Tiuna, home to the Venezuelan Ministry of Defense. Additionally, an explosion was heard at the port of La Guaira, 16 km from Caracas.
Just one hour later, an unnamed US official told the media that President Donald Trump ordered strikes on sites inside Venezuela, including military targets. However, the War Department, the White House, and the State Department have not commented on the incident.
The Venezuelan government condemned what it called a “serious act of military aggression” by the US. In an official statement, Venezuela accused the US of carrying out attacks on Caracas, as well as the states of Miranda, Aragua, and La Guaira. The statement did not detail the extent of the damage or casualties, but said the incidents caused serious national security and sovereignty concerns. The Venezuelan government also called on all domestic political and social forces to defend the nation.
On the diplomatic front, Venezuela announced it would invoke Article 51 of the UN Charter to exercise its legitimate right of self-defense and alert the UN Security Council, the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States, and the Non-Aligned Movement.
In a swift reaction, the President of Colombia and the President of Cuba expressed concern and condemned the escalating tensions. Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel condemned what he called the illegal US attack on Venezuela, and urged the international community to respond immediately. Russian Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council (Senate) Kosstantin Kosachev called the US attack on Venezuela "unfounded".
Early on Saturday, US President Donald Trump posted a shocking message claiming that the US had captured Nicolás Maduro and his wife and flown them out of the South American country after a pre-dawn assault on Caracas and the surrounding region.
But, there has been no independent confirmation from the White House, the Pentagon, the US State Department, or major news agencies regarding a large-scale attack by the US or the capture of President Maduro. The Venezuelan government has not confirmed the capture of Maduro as claimed by Trump.