Around 2 am Caracas time, explosions began to be heard in the city. It appears US military helicopters and other aircraft are firing on multiple targets inside Venezuela's capital city.
At least seven explosions and low-flying aircraft were heard around 2 a.m. local time Saturday in Venezuela’s capital, Caracas.
Venezuela’s government did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
People in various neighborhoods rushed to the streets. Some could be seen in the distance from various areas of Caracas.
Colombia's communist president sounds alarmed.
En este momento bombardean Caracas. Alerta atodo el mundo han atacado a Venezuela
— Gustavo Petro (@petrogustavo) January 3, 2026
Bombardean con misiles.
Debe reunirse la OEA y la ONU de inmediato.
It reads:
Right now they are bombing Caracas. Alert to the whole world, they have attacked Venezuela
They are bombing with missiles.
The OAS and the UN must meet immediately.
One of the locations that was hit was a military base called Fuerte Tiuna. This one reads: "I'm glad to be awake in this early morning to know, firsthand, that we are living through a historic moment: the US Air Force is bombing Fuerte Tiuna. It's official."
Me alegra estar despierta en esta madrugada para saber, de primera mano, que estamos viviendo un momento histórico: la Fuerza Aérea de EEUU está bombardeando Fuerte Tiuna. Es oficial." pic.twitter.com/S1NsFGUhBc
— 𝒟𝒶𝓃𝒾𝒶 𝒜𝒸𝑒𝓋𝑒𝒹𝑜 (@DaniaRoberta) January 3, 2026
More video:
BREAKING:
— Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) January 3, 2026
U.S. helicopters are POUNDING the Venezuelan military complex Fuerte Tiuna in Caracas pic.twitter.com/l9jblj2O5a
It looks like everyone is trying to get out of Fuerte Tiuna as fast as possible.
AL PARECER SOLDADOS Y CIVILES HUYEN DE FUERTE TIUNA.
— John P. Acquaviva (@JPAFS) January 3, 2026
Según video de populares, tanto militares como civiles estarían abandonando o abandonaron el complejo en el suroeste de Caracas luego de las explosiones reportadas. Allí funcionan dependencias clave, incluyendo el entorno del… pic.twitter.com/ieKFMal1A4
Only a year after losing Syria, it's highly likely that Putin will now lose both Venezuela and Iran in the same month.
— Jay in Kyiv (@JayinKyiv) January 3, 2026
Caracas. pic.twitter.com/9jduPH0g1A
One thing some people are pointing out is that there seems to be zero anit-aircraft fire happening. Whatever system they were relying on seems to be kaput.
Caracas a las 2 de la Mañana #Caracas #venezuela pic.twitter.com/jh8URRlIvy
— David (@anthonyseijas2) January 3, 2026
Explosions in Caracas, Venezuela. pic.twitter.com/xxhmkRUSVt
— NOELREPORTS 🇪🇺 🇺🇦 (@NOELreports) January 3, 2026
An airport was hit which led to secondary explosions.
The Higuerote Airport, east of Caracas, has been struck as part of the ongoing U.S. military operation. Secondary explosions are clearly visible. pic.twitter.com/TzEeej4SXP
— NOELREPORTS 🇪🇺 🇺🇦 (@NOELreports) January 3, 2026
A port:
Fires after airstrikes in the Port of La Guaira, Venezuela. pic.twitter.com/mAPJQmdKhx
— NOELREPORTS 🇪🇺 🇺🇦 (@NOELreports) January 3, 2026
Maduro has issued a statement:
President Nicolás Maduro accused the United States of carrying out military attacks against Venezuela, in a statement released by Venezuela’s communications ministry. Venezuela “rejects, repudiates, and denounces” U.S. military aggression in the capital of Caracas and the states of Miranda, Aragua, and La Guaira, it said.
Just a reminder that he stole the last election from the legitimate winner. He is president by threat of military force alone and not in a position to repudiate anyone.
President Trump is currently at Mar-a-Lago. He reportedly received a military briefing there Friday night.
No one knows where Maduro is but NBC reports there are guards outside the palace.
Members of the presidential guard and soldiers guard the area around Miraflores, the presidential palace, after a series of explosions were heard in Caracas today.
That's about all the news I see at this moment. I'm going to give this a few more minutes before I call it a night.
Not sure we needed confirmation but there it is.
BREAKING: US attacks Venezuela, sources tell FOX News. pic.twitter.com/kLL3Q2T4cL
— Fox News (@FoxNews) January 3, 2026
It looks like the attack is slowing down. Not sure if this is a pause to assess the first wave or, who knows, maybe someone has Maduro on the phone discussing an exit plan. We'll have more on this tomorrow.
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