Fire and some damage to the fence of the Generalissimo Francisco de Miranda Air Base, also known as La Carlota, the main military airport in Caracas, were reported by EFE early Saturday morning, after the Venezuelan government denounced a “military aggression” by the United States.
In addition to the fire, tree debris and damage to the city’s main highway adjacent to the military installation was observed at the site, where uniformed personnel were also present in vehicles surrounding the area.
Damage at Caracas military airport after attacks
Video of the moment of a bombing over the Generalissimo Francisco de Miranda Air Base, also informally called La Carlota Air Base, in Caracas, Venezuela. pic.twitter.com/bIi961b3q4
– Vloonk (@vloonk) January 3, 2026
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro declared a state of external commotion throughout the national territory after denouncing a“military aggression perpetrated by the current government of the United States”, following the explosions that occurred early Saturday morning in Caracas and the nearby states of Miranda, Aragua and La Guaira.
Detonations and explosions with aircraft overflight were heard early Saturday morning in Caracas, at a time when Venezuela has denounced “threats” from the government of U.S. President Donald Trump for the military deployment in the Caribbean and warnings of ground attacks.
U.S. officials confirmed to CBS that Trump has ordered the strikes on Venezuelan territory shortly after explosions and flyovers were heard near Caracas in the early hours of Saturday morning.
Images of explosions in several points of the Venezuelan capital circulated in social networks, while users reported detonations in the country’s main military fort, Fuerte Tiuna, in the west of the city, and in La Carlota.
Last Friday, December 26, the U.S. president announced an attack against a“large facility” as part of his campaign against a drug trafficking network led, according to Washington, by Venezuela, although he did not specify whether the attack took place within Venezuelan territory.
On Monday, December 29, Trump indicated that the attack was on a pier, but also did not specify the geographic area of the bombing.
As reported by the New York Times on Monday, the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) carried out a drone strike against a port facility in Venezuela last week.
On Thursday, Maduro said in an interview that his country’s defense system “has guaranteed and will guarantee the territorial integrity” of Venezuela, when asked about this alleged ground attack, which he neither confirmed nor denied.
With information from EFE
