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The United States reportedly carried out military operations against Venezuela overnight on January 3, sparking multiple explosions in the capital, Caracas. The attacks followed a significant U.S. military buildup in the Caribbean and repeated threats from President Donald Trump against Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his government.
Venezuela’s government 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 the sounds of aircraft flyovers were reported in Caracas. Footage circulating online showed fires at Fuerte Tiuna, the country’s largest military complex, and burning vehicles at La Carlota air base.
The Pentagon and U.S. Southern Command referred inquiries to the White House, which had not issued an immediate statement. The full scope and objectives of the operation were unclear at press time.
U.S. news outlets reported the explosions as part of a Trump administration attack, while Venezuela’s opposition, led by 2025 Nobel Peace Prize laureate María Corina Machado, declined to comment.
The U.S. State Department acknowledged “reports of explosions in and around Caracas” on its embassy website and advised American citizens in Venezuela to shelter in place and leave as soon as it is safe. The U.S. embassy in Caracas has been closed since 2019, with consular matters handled through Colombia.
The strikes come amid a broader U.S. military campaign in the region. Since September 2025, U.S. forces have targeted alleged drug-trafficking vessels in the Caribbean and Pacific, escalating in late December with the seizure of Venezuelan oil tankers. A large U.S. naval presence, including guided missile destroyers, a missile cruiser, a Marine Corps amphibious ready group, and the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford, has been deployed in the southern Caribbean.
Days before the reported attacks, President Trump confirmed that the CIA had carried out a land strike on a Venezuelan dock facility. U.S. officials say the campaign has targeted at least 35 boats in international waters, resulting in at least 115 deaths, many of them Venezuelan, citing efforts to curb drug trafficking, particularly fentanyl.
The operations have faced growing criticism in Washington. Lawmakers from both parties questioned the legality of the strikes and the lack of intelligence briefings to Congress. Legal analysts and former military officials have described some actions as potential violations of international law.
Senator Brian Schatz of Hawaii criticized the administration, stating, “We have no vital national interests in Venezuela to justify war,” highlighting concerns over transparency and justification for the operations.
