US Forces Launch Multi-Target Strikes on Venezuelan Capital
The Venezuelan capital was rocked by a series of massive explosions in the early hours of Saturday, January 3, 2026, as United States military forces transitioned from maritime intercepts to direct land-based strikes. At approximately 2:00 a.m. local time, at least seven distinct blasts were felt across Caracas, followed by the sound of low-flying aircraft and the rapid activation of city-wide air defense systems.
The strikes appear to have targeted high-value military and logistics infrastructure, marking a significant escalation in the ongoing regional campaign known as “Operation Southern Spear.”
Targets Hit: La Carlota and Fuerte Tiuna
Initial reports from the ground confirm that smoke is rising from the La Carlota airbase, located in the heart of the city. Additionally, the Fuerte Tiuna military complex—the primary headquarters of the Venezuelan Ministry of Defense, suffered significant damage, with local residents reporting a total power outage in the surrounding southern districts of the capital.
Further strikes were confirmed at the Port of La Guaira, where witnesses described secondary explosions consistent with the destruction of fuel or munitions storage facilities. While the Trump administration has previously targeted maritime vessels linked to the narco-trafficking trade, this morning’s operation represents the first large-scale air raid on the capital itself.
International Reaction and Condemnation
The response from regional leaders was immediate. Colombian President Gustavo Petro confirmed the strikes via social media, stating that “missiles are bombing Caracas in this moment” and calling for an emergency session of the United Nations Security Council to prevent a “continental catastrophe.”
In Washington, officials from the U.S. Southern Command have remained largely silent on the specific tactical details, though the administration has recently hinted that it would expand its kinetic operations to include land-based ‘implementation zones’ used by designated narco-terrorist organizations.
Tactical Shift: From Blockade to Kinetic Strike
Since mid-December, the U.S. has enforced a “total and complete blockade” on oil tankers entering or exiting Venezuela.[1] However, the use of precision-guided munitions on the capital signals a shift in strategy toward the direct dismantling of the Maduro administration’s military capability.
Unconfirmed footage circulating on social media shows thick black smoke billowing over the Caracas skyline, while air-raid sirens continued to wail across the city well into the dawn hours. Military analysts suggest that the use of MQ-9 Reaper drones and stealth aircraft likely bypassed the capital’s aging radar networks, allowing for the “surgical” nature of the hits on military command centers.
The Developing Situation
The Venezuelan government has yet to release an official casualty count, though President Nicolás Maduro is expected to address the nation later today. Security forces in Caracas have established a “Red Zone” around the affected sites, and all international flights into the capital have been indefinitely suspended.
