In a dramatic escalation of regional tensions, the Venezuelan capital of Caracas was rocked by at least seven powerful explosions in the early hours of Saturday, January 3, 2026.1 Witnesses reported the sound of low-flying aircraft and active air defense systems around 2:00 a.m. local time, with visible plumes of smoke rising near the La Carlota airport and the Fuerte Tiuna military base.2 While the White House and the Pentagon have not yet issued a formal public statement, U.S. officials have reportedly confirmed that President Donald Trump ordered targeted strikes on Venezuelan military facilities as part of an intensified campaign against the administration of Nicolás Maduro.
The strikes appear to be a decisive expansion of Operation Southern Spear, a mission launched by the Trump administration in August 2025 with the stated goal of dismantling “narco-terrorist” networks. Until now, the operation had been largely confined to maritime engagements, with the U.S. Navy and Air Force conducting over 35 lethal strikes on vessels in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific.3 The move to land-based targets follows weeks of “maximum pressure” tactics, including a total maritime blockade of sanctioned oil tankers and the recent seizure of several vessels.
International reaction has been swift and divided. Colombian President Gustavo Petro took to social media to sound an global alarm, stating that Caracas was being bombed with missiles and calling for an immediate meeting of the United Nations. The Venezuelan government has officially denounced the action as a “very serious military aggression” against sovereign territory, claiming that strikes hit civilian and military infrastructure across the states of Miranda, Aragua, and La Guaira.5 This escalation comes just a day after Nicolás Maduro appeared in a pre-recorded interview offering to negotiate “whenever and wherever” to combat drug trafficking, an offer that now appears to have been overtaken by military events.
Legal and military analysts are closely watching the situation to determine if this marks the beginning of a full-scale ground invasion or a limited “kinetic” campaign designed to force a regime change. The presence of specialized aircraft, including what are believed to be 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment helicopters over Caracas, suggests a high level of tactical coordination.7 As the sun rises over a city plagued by power outages and fear, the world awaits official confirmation from Washington on the ultimate objectives of this unprecedented military intervention in South America.