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Explosions heard in Venezuela as thick columns of smoke spark speculation that US has carried out airstrikes
Daily Mail UK ^ | January 3, 2026 | Stephen M. Lepore

Posted on 01/02/2026 11:32:26 PM PST by Morgana

At least seven explosions and low-flying aircraft were seen in the Venezuelan capital of Caracas amid Donald Trump's escalating threats against its leader Nicolas Maduro.

Airplanes, loud noises and at least one column of smoke were being heard and seen in Venezuelan capital Caracas in the early hours of Saturday morning, witnesses told Reuters. It is not immediately clear what caused the blasts.

CNN reported the blasts began at 1:50am local time and one targeted Fort Tiona, which is where the Venezuelan ministry of defense is headquartered. The southern area of the city, which is near a major military base, has been without electricity.

People in various neighborhoods rushed to the streets. Some could be seen in the distance from various areas of Caracas.

'The whole ground shook. This is horrible. We heard explosions and planes in the distance,' said Carmen Hidalgo, a 21-year-old office worker, her voice trembling. She was walking briskly with two relatives, returning from a birthday party. 'We felt like the air was hitting us.'

Venezuelan state television did not interrupt its programming and aired a report on Venezuelan music and art.

Trump has repeatedly promised land operations in Venezuela, amid efforts to pressure Maduro to leave office, including expanded sanctions and a ramped-up US military presence in the region.

More than two dozen US strikes have taken place on vessels allegedly involved in trafficking drugs in the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea in recent months.

Smoke raises at La Carlota airport after explosions and low-flying aircraft were heard in Caracas, Venezuela

(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: maduro; manuro; taworldpolice

1 posted on 01/02/2026 11:32:26 PM PST by Morgana
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To: Morgana
Someone else is nervous ...

Colombian President Gustavo Petro addressed the attacks in Venezuela on his X account. 
He wrote: "They are currently bombing Caracas. This is a warning to the entire world. 
They attacked Venezuela, they are bombing it with missiles. 
The UN and the Organization of American States (OAS) must convene immediately."
(ynet)


2 posted on 01/02/2026 11:41:16 PM PST by af_vet_1981 ( The bus came by and I got on, That's when it all began.)
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To: Morgana

NOTAM went out 0600 UTC (0100 EST) closing Venezuelan airspace to US commercial aircraft.

CC


3 posted on 01/02/2026 11:41:18 PM PST by Celtic Conservative (Heghlu'meH QaQ jajvam!)
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To: Morgana

Pay attention Cuba!

You are next!


4 posted on 01/02/2026 11:52:10 PM PST by Taxman (We will never be a truly free people so long as we have the income tax and the IRS. )
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To: Morgana

If Maduro is smart he would be planning his escape right about now, but smart isn’t one of his attributes.


5 posted on 01/03/2026 12:06:42 AM PST by Omnivore-Dan (have to )
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To: af_vet_1981

“The UN”....🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣


6 posted on 01/03/2026 12:13:03 AM PST by MachIV
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To: Morgana
FAFO, Well Maduro found out.
7 posted on 01/03/2026 12:20:16 AM PST by nuke_road_warrior (Making the world safe for Nuclear Power for over 20 years.)
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To: Morgana

Fox News sources confirm US airstrikes over Venezuela.


8 posted on 01/03/2026 12:26:32 AM PST by Swirl
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To: Morgana

I really wish President Trump would stay the hell out of Venezuela. I don’t see how any of our forays into these other countries has resulted in a rosy outcome for those countries’ citizens or for US citizens..


9 posted on 01/03/2026 12:43:38 AM PST by sockmonkey (Conservative. Not a Neocon. )
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To: sockmonkey

I am with you on this one. Boats? Fine….regime change? Hell no, we are finished with endless wars and regime change


10 posted on 01/03/2026 12:48:25 AM PST by Jarhead9297
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To: Morgana

Trump gave maduro advice recently

Take your money you’ve stolen
Your posse and their families

Go somewhere that’ll take you

But not Coral Gables sorry

It was reasonable

I’m sure Qatar would say “fine whatever my new buddy”


11 posted on 01/03/2026 12:49:55 AM PST by wardaddy (If u hate Trump you’re stupid or clueless what’s going on)
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To: Morgana

Sites confirmed to have been targeted tonight in Venezuela:

-Fuerte Tiuna - Main Military Base in Caracas
-La Carlota - Main Airbase in Caracas
-El Volcán - Main Signal Antenna
-La Guaira Port - Main Port of Venezuela


12 posted on 01/03/2026 12:51:28 AM PST by CFW
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To: af_vet_1981

Also mexican drug smugglers, Canadian drug smugglers, keep your poisons out of u.s.......also american drug smugglers working with cartels....hear that AOC, Whitmer, Michelle Wu, Colorado, California politicians, Karen BeAss? Your friends gonna get bombed....now these Democrat cowards can not be afraid of the cartels( that’s why they are so soft on crime) cause the u.s. military gonna’ wipe out the cartels who are probably threatening them ..
IMHO


13 posted on 01/03/2026 12:51:52 AM PST by Getready (Wisdom is more valuable than gold and harder to find.)
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To: Getready

Colombian President Petro says the US struck the Venezuelan parliament building.


14 posted on 01/03/2026 12:52:53 AM PST by CFW
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To: CFW
If you can't trust Colombian President Petro who can you trust ?

Economist, former Marxist guerrilla (M-19), former Mayor of Bogotá, Senator, and now the first left-wing President of Colombia.
15 posted on 01/03/2026 1:05:00 AM PST by af_vet_1981 ( The bus came by and I got on, That's when it all began.)
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To: af_vet_1981
LOL! ----- Image
16 posted on 01/03/2026 1:36:46 AM PST by CFW
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To: sockmonkey
The regime seized US company assets.

Now they will be returned mostly peacefully.

17 posted on 01/03/2026 2:46:40 AM PST by Theophilus (covfefe)
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To: Theophilus

“Now they will be returned mostly peacefully.”

I don’t think anyone will wnt the quipment back. Probably rusty junk by now.


18 posted on 01/03/2026 3:38:59 AM PST by rxh4n1
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To: Morgana

Going to be a lot of happy people in Venezuelan today.


19 posted on 01/03/2026 6:03:24 AM PST by Vaduz (?.)
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To: Morgana

“Trump has repeatedly promised land operations in Venezuela…”

PRESIDENT Trump.


20 posted on 01/03/2026 7:18:37 AM PST by TalBlack (Their god is government. Prepare for a religious war.https://freerepublic.com/perl/post?id=4322961%2)
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