US Airstrikes on Venezuela Spark Global Reaction
In a surprise pre-dawn assault, the United States launched airstrikes on Venezuela's capital, Caracas, culminating in the capture of Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores. The blitz has left the city in a state of shock, with residents reporting a creeping silence, empty streets, and closed shops.
The Assault
The airstrikes, which took place around 2 a.m. local time, were initially met with confusion, with some Caracas residents attributing the loud bangs and rumblings to an exploding air conditioning unit, a tropical thunderstorm, or fireworks. The Venezuelan state TV interrupted regular programming to announce an ongoing attack in the country, urging families to stay safe. Subsequently, reports of explosions and smoke at La Guaira port and overflights of missiles created a climate of fear and uncertainty.
Ana Vanessa Herrero, a reporter in Caracas, began hearing planes at 02:00 local time. I thought it might be fireworks,
Carlos Hurtado, a resident of the 23 de Enero housing estate on the city’s westside, recalled of the moment he was woken by a mysterious sequence of rumblings and explosions.
The Aftermath
Following the attack, Venezuela declared a national emergency, denouncing the extremely serious military aggression
. Caracas residents reported noise, destroyed installations, empty streets, closed businesses, and anticipation of protests, particularly from Chavistas.
Russian ambassador Sergey Melik-Bagdasarov stated that the situation in Caracas is calm and controlled by authorities, adding that there were no Russian nationals among the killed or injured. However, Russian sources also noted that warning systems failed during the US strikes on Caracas.
Global Reaction
The airstrikes and the capture of Maduro have elicited a range of reactions from the international community. Albania and Kosovo applauded the Trump administration’s military operation, while other Balkan states initially remained silent or called for calm and restraint. Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called for a peaceful, democratic transition
of power in Venezuela, urging that international law be respected.
In contrast, the UK's Venezuelan community expressed mixed emotions. My first reaction was he’s gone, which is kind of good news,
Cinzia de Santis, a member of the community, said. However, the manner of Maduro's capture sparked concern due to the absence of legal or constitutional authority.
In the Face of Uncertainty
Despite the blitz and the capture of Maduro, the streets of Caracas remain eerily quiet, with only a few hundred Maduro supporters gathering to clamor for his freedom. The future of Venezuela remains uncertain, with residents and the international community alike waiting anxiously for the next developments.
US President Donald Trump has not yet addressed the CIA's role in the attack or the prospect of American troops on the ground in Venezuela. The world watches as a new chapter in Venezuelan history unfolds.