Washington, DC – In the most serious military and political development in decades, Pentagon officials told Fox News that the US military has officially begun launching intensive airstrikes. These strikes targeted strategic locations within Venezuelan territory, in an operation apparently aimed at crippling the military capabilities of Nicolás Maduro’s regime.
Neutralizing the “Russian grip”: Destroying the S-300
Field reports indicated that the initial strike was “surgical” and focused, targeting advanced air defense systems:
S-300 and Buk systems: Sources confirmed the destruction of a number of Russian-made missile launchers, which were considered the main defensive line for the capital, Caracas.
Radar malfunction: A complete absence of any response from Venezuelan air defenses was observed at the start of the attack. This supports the hypothesis that the radar and early warning systems were subjected to widespread electronic jamming prior to the airstrikes.
Night of terror in Caracas
The Venezuelan capital experienced a sleepless night of explosions, with local residents reporting:
7 massive explosions: shook the city at approximately 2:00 AM local time.
Low-flying: US warplanes and drones were seen penetrating the skies of the capital at very low altitudes.
Power outage: Large neighborhoods were plunged into complete darkness immediately after the explosions, amid panic and a mass exodus of residents into the streets.
Background to the escalation: From “drug terrorism” to confrontation
This military operation comes after months of direct threats from the administration of US President Donald Trump. The Trump administration has accused the Maduro regime of turning Venezuela into a “narco-state.” Although Maduro expressed a willingness to negotiate last Thursday, the US military action effectively precludes any diplomatic solution. Such a solution does not include his departure from power.
A complete air embargo
Concurrently with the airstrikes, the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) imposed a complete ban on all US flights over Venezuelan airspace. This is a clear indication that the military operations may last longer or expand to include areas beyond the capital.
