The United States launched military operations against Venezuela overnight on Jan. 3, according to media reports and statements from Venezuela’s government.
The explosions followed a significant U.S. military buildup in the Caribbean and repeated threats by President Donald Trump against Venezuela’s government and President Nicolás Maduro.
Venezuela’s government has declared a state of emergency, condemning what it described as “extremely serious military aggression perpetrated by the current Government of the United States of America against Venezuelan territory and population.”
Loud explosions, accompanied by sounds resembling aircraft flyovers, were heard in Caracas around 2:00 a.m. Footage circulating online showed fires at Fuerte Tiuna, Venezuela’s largest military complex, and burning vehicles at La Carlota air base.
U.S. authorities offered no immediate public comment. The Pentagon and U.S. Southern Command have so far referred inquiries to the White House, which did not issue an immediate statement. The scope of the operation and its objectives as at press time were not immediately clear.
Multiple U.S. news outlets reported that the blasts were part of a Trump administration attack on Venezuela. Venezuela’s opposition, led by 2025 Nobel Peace Prize laureate María Corina Machado, said it had no official comment.
🚨 ÚLTIMA HORA
Se visualizan las aeronaves estadounidenses en territorio venezolano. pic.twitter.com/LUHLXp9e1e
— Emmanuel Rincón (@EmmaRincon) January 3, 2026