U.S. Confirms Military Strikes on Targets in Caracas and other Cities, Amid Escalating Campaign Against Venezuelan Regime

Caracas, Venezuela — January 3, 2026-- The United States has confirmed that it conducted military strikes on multiple targets inside Venezuela early Saturday, marking a significant escalation in Washington's pressure campaign against President Nicolás Maduro's government.

U.S. officials told CBS News that President Donald Trump ordered airstrikes on sites in Caracas, including military facilities, in the early morning hours. The operation targeted locations linked to what the U.S. describes as narco-trafficking networks operated by the Maduro regime.

At least seven explosions were reported around 2 a.m. local time, with eyewitnesses and videos showing bright flashes, plumes of smoke rising from key military installations such as Fort Tiuna—the country's largest military complex—and the Generalissimo Francisco de Miranda Air Base (La Carlota). Additional blasts were reported at Higuerote Airport and other sites. Low-flying aircraft, including possible U.S. helicopters, were heard overhead, and parts of southern Caracas experienced power outages.

The Venezuelan government swiftly condemned the action, issuing a statement rejecting what it called U.S. "military aggression" and accusing Washington of seeking to seize the country's oil reserves. No immediate reports of casualties have been confirmed by either side.

The bombings in Caracas, Venezuela, are being reported near the centers of power of Chavismo, specifically in areas where high-ranking military officials (Cartel de los Soles) reside.

The strikes follow months of intensifying U.S. operations under "Operation Southern Spear," which began with lethal attacks on suspected drug-trafficking vessels in the Caribbean and Pacific, resulting in over 100 deaths according to U.S. announcements. In late December 2025, Trump publicly acknowledged a U.S. action that destroyed a coastal docking facility used for narcotics loading—the first confirmed land-based operation inside Venezuela.

The Trump administration accuses senior Venezuelan officials of running the "Cartel de los Soles," a narco-terrorist network. Maduro has denied the allegations and, in recent days, expressed willingness for dialogue on drug trafficking issues.

The Federal Aviation Administration issued a notice prohibiting U.S. aircraft from Venezuelan airspace, citing risks from "ongoing military activity." International reactions were swift, with Colombia's President Gustavo Petro calling for urgent UN and OAS meetings, and Cuba denouncing the strikes as "state terrorism."

Neither the White House nor the Pentagon has issued a formal public statement on the operation as of Saturday morning, but administration officials confirmed awareness of the events. The situation remains highly fluid, with potential for further developments in the region.